Dhaka: The nation is observing the Jail Killing Day on Thursday with due solemnity.

On 3 November, 1975, four national leaders and heroes of the country’s 1971 War of Liberation—Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmad, Captain Mansur Ali and AHM Quamruzzaman—were assassinated inside the Dhaka Central Jail.

The four leaders played a key role in forming the Mujibnagar government in exile that led the Liberation War of 1971 with Syed Nazrul Islam as the acting president, Tajuddin Ahmad as the prime minister, Mansur Ali as the finance minister and AHM Qamruzzaman as the home, relief and rehabilitation minister.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have issued separate messages on the occasion.

In his message, the President said, ‘The aim of the killers was to erase the ideals of the Liberation War from the spirit of the young generation apart from the rise of undemocratic autocratic rule.’
In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, ‘The killing of the four national leaders was the continuation of the killing of father of the nation with his family. Through it the conspirators carried an evil effort to destroy the spirit of Liberation War by erasing the name of Awami League.’

Awami League, its associate bodies and other political parties have chalked out elaborate programmes to mark the day.

The programmes include hoisting of national flag half-mast, hoisting of party flags, wearing black badges, offering Fateha at the graves of the four leaders at Banani graveyard at about 8:00am.

The ruling party will organise a memorial meeting marking the day at Krishibid Institution at 3:00pm with Prime Minister and Awami League president Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader on Wednesday in a statement urged all to observe the day with due solemnity.