Dhaka: President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday paid tribute to the memory of Shaheed Noor Hossain, who laid down his life on 10 November in 1987 during anti-autocratic movement.

In a message on the eve of the day, the President said Noor Hossain was a courageous fighter and struggled for establishing a non-communal and democratic Bangladesh, said an official handout.

‘On this day in 1987, Noor Hossain in bare body inscribed with slogans ‘Gonotantra Mukti Pak, Swairachar Nipat Jak’ (Let democracy be freed, down with autocracy)’ and embraced martyrdom while taking part in an anti-autocracy march of the then 15-party Oikka Jote led by Awami League,’ said the President.

The democracy was re-established in continuation of his supreme sacrifice many democracy loving people including Noor Hossain, Fattah and Babul, he added.

He prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul of Noor Hossain, babul, Fattha and other martyrs, and expressed deep sympathy to the bereaved family members of the deceased. In a separate message, the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recalled the supreme sacrifice of Noor Hossain to restore democracy in the country with gratitude.

‘The country’s progress of democracy had stopped with the killing of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along most of his family members by anti-liberation aliments on August 15, 1975,’ she said.

The prime minister said that the November 10, 1987 is a memorable day in the country’s movement to re-establish the democracy. During autocratic movement, she said that the valiant soldier (Noor Hossain) had shed his blood to build a progressive, non-communal and democratic Bangladesh.

Noor Hossain blood did not go in vein as democracy had been restored in the country in 1990 in continuation of the sacrifice of Noor Hossain, the prime minister said.

She wished all success of the programmes undertaken to mark the Shaheed Noor Hossain day.