Covid Pandemic
AL plans muted celebrations to mark foundation day on Sunday
The Awami League, the oldest and largest political party in Bangladesh, will celebrate its 72nd foundation day in a restricted manner on Sunday, amid the Covid pandemic.
The anniversary programmes will begin at Dhaka’s 32 Dhanmondi Road on Sunday morning, with the hoisting of the national and party flags at Bangabandhu Bhaban and the Awami League central office.
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The Awami League and its affiliate organisations will pay homage to the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, by placing wreaths at his portrait at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum. The ruling party will also hoist the national and party flags at its offices across the country.
A delegation from the Awami League Central Working Committee (ALCWC) will place wreaths at 10 am at the mausoleum of Bangabandhu in his birthplace of Tungipara in Gopalganj while presidium member Lt Col Muhammad Faruq Khan (Retired), Jahangir Kabir Nanak, organisational secretary SM Kamal Hossain, Mirza Azam, Shahabuddin Farazi, and Syed Abdul Awal Shamim will attend the programme.
Alongside, a discussion programme marking the foundation day of the party will be held at 4 pm at the party's central office on Bangbhabandhu Avenue where its President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will virtually attend the programme.
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Party general secretary Obaidul Quader has already called up all party and associate bodies' leaders, activists and followers and urged them to organise programmes in a limited manner maintaining all Covid-safety protocols.
The party began its journey on June 23 in 1949, when a young, secular and progressive section of the Muslim League formed the East Pakistan Awami Muslim League, at a meeting in the historic Rose Garden on KM Das Lane in Dhaka’s Tikatuli.
Maulana Abdul Hamid Bhashani was elected as the founding president, and Shamsul Hoque was named the general secretary.
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In July 1953, during the Second National Council meeting of the party, Bhashani was re-elected president, and the Father of the Nation was named the new general secretary.
Return to Dhaka after lockdown ends: Mayor Taposh
Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh has urged people who left for their native places to celebrate Eid with their families to return to Dhaka as soon as thelockdown restrictions are lifted.
He made this request while exchanging festive greetings after attending the first Eid Jamaat at National Mosque Baitul Mukarram on Friday morning.
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Barrister Taposh said, "Those who are outside Dhaka to celebrate Eid with their parents and families, I request you to return to Dhaka as soon as the restrictions are lifted."
He also warned people to adhere to health safety rules "as we’re celebrating Eid amid the Covid pandemic".
One-Min blackout to mark Genocide Day
A one-minute blackout will be observed in Bangladesh on Thursday night to mark 'Genocide Day', amid fears of a second wave of the Covid pandemic.
On the black night of March 25 in 1971, the Pakistani military junta resorted to mass killings in Dhaka to implement its blueprint to thwart the Awami League's assumption of office following the election mandate of 1970.
Also read: Trial of Pakistan's 1971 Genocide: It's for Bangladesh to decide
In the attack dubbed 'Operation Searchlight', the Pakistani security forces mercilessly killed nearly three million people -- Bangali members of the East Pakistan Rifles and police, students, teachers and common people. The Pakistani forces also set thousands of properties on fire and looted business establishments.
This is the third time that Bangladesh is observing Genocide Day since Parliament unanimously adopted a resolution on March 11, 2017.
This year, however, there will be no outdoor programme due to the prevailing Covid situation. Only a one-minute blackout is slated to be observed from 9pm to 9.01pm across the country.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have already issued separate messages on the occasion.
Also read: One minute ‘blackout’ at 9 pm on March 25 night
In her message, the Prime Minister said, “On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Day of Genocide, we pledge to uphold the freedom that we have earned in exchange for the three million martyrs and the respect of two hundred thousand tortured mothers and sisters, if necessary, in exchange for our supreme sacrifices.”
“Resisting all immediate conspiracies and be inspired by the spirit of the Great Liberation War, we shall play a concerted role in the realisation of the dream of the Father of the Nation for building a non-communal, hunger-free and prosperous Bangladesh, Insha Allah," she said.
“I wish all-out success to the programmes taken on the occasion of 'Genocide Day'," the PM said.
President Hamid said, “On the eve of the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation and the Golden Jubilee of Independence, I call upon all, irrespective of party affiliation, to contribute from their respective positions in the implementation of these programmes.”
Also read: Genocide Day' observed
“We can pay our eternal respect to every soul who gave his life in 1971 genocide, by turning the country into the ‘Sonar Bangla’ as dreamt by Bangabandhu,” he said.
Book fair gradually gains momentum
The Amar Ekushey Book Fair-2021, the country's beloved Boi Mela - which commenced almost 46 days after its scheduled time due to the Covid pandemic, is yet to draw a large number of book buyers even six days in.
Sales personnel said visitors are roaming across the fairgrounds and browsing titles and showing curiosity about new arrivals but there were very few buyers.
Publishers and sales executives said the hot and humid weather with occasional thunderstorms in March-April is unsuitable for book lovers, especially children and the elderly, to visit the fair.
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Dipannita, sales executive of Tamralipi Publications, said the fair is yet to gain momentum. "Bookworms are not coming that much due to the hot weather,” she said, blamed lack of promotional campaigns behind the low turnout of buyers.
Kausar Ahmed, a senior sales executive of the stall, said: "Although we are not selling books as per our expectation, we are still hopeful as people are coming amid the Covid-19 infection surge."
Also read: Curtain falls on Ekushey Book Fair
Md Robin, a sales executive of Genius Publications, said: “Although today is the sixth day of book fair, we are yet to see the expected number of booklovers. Those who are visiting today are only roaming around the fair premises, not buying books.”
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Leftist students demand reopening DU halls
The Progressive Students' Alliance, an alliance of leftist student oraganisations of Dhaka University (DU), on Thursday staged a sit-in protest in front of the vice-chancellor's residents demanding reopening of residential halls before holding examinations.
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