Dhaka: Bangladesh Awami League (AL) will observe its 68^th founding anniversary on Friday amid holding different programmes.

Floated on this day in 1949, Awami League has been transformed into a mass organisation of the people of the country by leading all the democratic-political-social-cultural movements including the long arduous freedom struggle and the War of Liberation.

Prime Minster and AL President Sheikh Hasina on Thursday greeted the countrymen including her party men and paid due respect to the party’s founders on the occasion of its 68^th founding anniversary saying, ‘ AL will always stay beside the people as before.’

‘On this day I recall with respect the greatest Bengali of all the time, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman . . . I recall with respect Awami League’s founder president Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashni and general secretary Shamsul Haque, I recall with respect Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy,’ she said in her message on the occasion.

Sheikh Hasina greeted the AL workers, leaders and supporters on the occasion alongside the countrymen.

The incumbent president of the party said the party would remain beside the people and turn the country into ‘Sonar Bangla’ as dreamt by the Father of the Nation.

‘Awami League has a glorious role in every major and great achievement of the nation. Insha Allah (God willing), it will remain beside the people in future too, and turn the country into Sonar Bangla in line with Father of the Nation,’ she said.

Talking to BSS, AL presidium member and Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammed Nasim said ‘Bangladesh Awami League is one of the oldest, biggest and secular political party that led the national movement for emancipation of the Bangalees and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the first personality who initiated the work for building a secular Bangladesh,’

He added: ‘Awami League is not only the oldest and biggest political party in the country but it’s the mainstream of democracy and secular ideologies. Since its floating, Awami League has been taking forward the trend in our social-democracy uninterruptedly through various movements and struggles over the past 68 years.’

Nasim said the achievements of AL were the outcome of the democratic people during the Pakistani rule and the party never ever gave false assurance to people as it implemented whatever necessary for the nation and the country.

Marking the founding anniversary, the ruling AL has taken an extensive programme, including hoisting of the national and party flags at its offices across the country at dawn, placing of wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu on the premises of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi at 9am.

Though the country’s biggest political party was floated as Awami Muslim League at the historical Rose Garden at KM Das Lane in Dhaka, the word ‘Muslim’ was dropped at its third council in 1955.

In a statement today, Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader, also road transport and bridges minister, called upon the party units across the country and their associate and like-minded bodies to observe the founding anniversary of the party.