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The Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal observes the 50th anniversary of the killing of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding president of Bangladesh, by placing a wreath at his portrait at the Shaheed Colonel Taher Auditorium at the party office in the capital on Friday. | Press release

The Communist Party of Bangladesh and two factions of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal on Friday observed the 50th anniversary of death of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding president of Bangladesh.

The parties paid tributes to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and held discussions, recalling the role of the founding president who, along with most of his family members, were killed on August 15 in1975.


According to a press release issued by the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-Jasod, its leaders and activists paid tributes to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on ‘National Mourning Day’ by placing a wreath at his portrait at the Shaheed Colonel Taher Auditorium at the party’s office in Dhaka city.

Presided over by the party vice-president and freedom fighter Shafiuddin Uddin Molla, a commemorative meeting was held where senior leaders of the party spoke.

They described the assassination of Sheikh Mujib and most of his family members as the most tragic event in the nation’s history and a dark chapter in world politics.

Having said that Sheikh Mujib was the leader of the entire Bengali nation, not the property of any party or family, the speakers noted that his legacy could in no way be erased by destroying memorials or restricting Mourning Day observances.

Another faction, Bangladesh Jasod, on the day observed the day with due solemnity.

Party leaders paid floral tribute at Sheikh Mujib’s portrait at the party office in the morning, followed by a discussion, said a press release.

Presided over by Bangladesh Jasod standing committee member Mushtuq Husain, the commemoration programme was addressed by general secretary and freedom fighter Nazmul Haque Prodhan, among others.

‘Sheikh Mujib is the architect of the War of Independence—this is an undeniable historical truth. Bangabandhu must be judged in the light of his entire life and struggle,’ Nazmul said.

Mushtuq Husain condemned the demolition of Sheikh Mujib’s historic Dhanmondi 32 residence, calling him a symbol of the Bengali nation’s freedom, and urged unity to resist the resurgence of fascist politics.

Remembering Sheikh Muhibur Rahman, the Communist Party of Bangladesh organised a discussion meeting in the afternoon on the day at the Moitree Auditorium of Mukti Bhaban in Purana Paltan.

The event was presided over by CPB central committee president and freedom fighter Md Shah Alam.

Addressing the discussion, party leaders said that the political assassination of August 15 marked the beginning of a reactionary coup in Bangladesh, initiating a process to establish the dominance of reactionary forces.

They observed that although Awami League, under Sheikh Hasina’s leadership, held state power twice for 23 years after sheikh Mujib’s killing, it abandoned Mujib’s principles.