The nation celebrates today the133rd anniversary of birth of Maulana
Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, who throughout his life fought for the rights
of the oppressed and against exploitation, imperialism and feudalism.
He championed the cause of the downtrodden.
Bhashani’s lifelong struggle for a just and exploitation-free society earned him a special place in people’s hearts.
He never hesitated to raise his voice whenever there was something wrong
on the political or social horizon or whenever vested interests sought
to infringe on or rob people’s democratic rights.
People fondly called him Majlum Jananeta, the leader of the oppressed.
Son of Haji Sharafat Ali Khan, Bhashani was born at Dhangara in Sirajganj in 1880.
Bhasani left Awami League, which had founded to launch left-leaning National Awami Party.
The historic Kagmari Conference he organised in 1957 was the first political initiative for the independence of Bangladesh.
He inspired and led the historic mass uprising of 1969 that eventually changed the course of history of this nation.
In 1969, he raised the slogan Swadhin Bangla Zindabad or Long Live Independent Bangladesh.
By boycotting the 1970 elections, Bhashani facilitated the Awami
League’s sweeping electoral victory in the then East Pakistan and making
Sheikh Mujib its undisputed leader.
The electoral mandate given to Mujib led to emergence of independent and
sovereign Bangladesh in 1971, ending exploitation by the then West
Pakistan.
Bhashani led the historic Farakka March in 1976 against unilateral
withdrawal of Ganges waters by India leaving lower riparian Bangladesh
high and dry.
Different political parties and cultural organisations took up elaborate
programmes to observe his birth anniversary at Santosh in Tangail and
in Dhaka.
Wreaths would be laid on his grave at Santosh. (source)