Dhaka: Today is June 23(Sunday). The biggest political party of the country, the ruling Awami League(AL) has stepped in 71 years of its founding.
But this long journey was not so easy or path of roses. During this time the party has to face many obstacles, ups and downs and hurdles.
Despite many obstacles this party under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has brought the taste of freedom and liberation for the Bangalees.
During its founding stage the erstwhile East Pakistan was heated in language movement. The West Pakistanis government had imposed Urdu as the state language on the Bangalees snatching our mother tongue Bangla.
Immediate after the birth of Pakistan to establish the rights of the people of the erstwhile East Pakistan new political party was born in the Rose Garden of old Dhaka in the name of Awami Muslim League.
Mowlana Abdul Khan Bhashani became the founder president of this new party with Sahmasul Haque of Tangail as the general secretary. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was elected as joint secretary.
Later on in 1952 Sheikh Mujibur Rahman became the acting general secretary of the party. Next year in the party conference he was elected as the general secretary. After becoming secretary of the party in 1955 Sheikh Mujibur Rahman omitted the ‘Muslim’ word from the name of the party to make it non-communal and secular Awami League.
In the next years Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman built up movements against the autocratic rule of Ayub Khan in 1962, education movement of 1964 and 6 point demand movement of 1966 and finally the movement for freedom.
In 1971 under the leadership Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Bangladesh achieved liberation after nine months bloody struggle.
But unfortunately after liberation when Bangabandhu was fighting to establish economic and social emancipation in the war torn country the dark age of Martial Law came down in Bangladesh.
The killers being encouraged by local and foreign conspirators killed Bangabandhu and his family members on the night of August 15 of 1975.
After a long gap of Bangabandhu killing, in 1981 daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Hasina returned to country. She was elected president of Awami League in the same year. From that moment the people of Bangladesh started dreaming of establishing democracy in the country.
Speaking on the return of Sheikh Hasina to country AL joint secretary Abdur Rahman told Barta24.com that at that time the party was plunged into darkness. The daughter of Bangabandhu returned to country in 1981 and took the helm with painful experiences for changing the lot of the people of Bangladesh.
She started waging successful movements against the military junta then ruling the country but she had to wait some more time to go to power.
But that wait ended in 1996 through 7th parliamentary election. Awami League formed the government under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina winning absolute majority in the general election.
Though Awami League started rolling the wheel of economy towards progress and prosperity the power again went in the hands of BNP-Jamaat alliance in the election of 2001. The Awami League leaders and activists became the victims of oppressions and suppressions.
On August 21 of 2004 the party activists and leaders including party chief became victims of grenade attack in the Bangabandhu Avenue. Sheikh Hasina miraculously escaped death though injured.
In 2008 in the 9th Jatiyo Sangsad election Awami League returned to power with absolute majority under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina. From that time Awami League under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina forming government for three times at a stretch is advancing the country towards progress and prosperity.
Party joint secretary Abdur Rahman informed that when Sheikh Hasina returned in 1981 she had a commitment and a dream. Her father wanted to bring smile in the face of people of Bangladesh. She is working to this end of fulfilling the cherished unfulfilled dream of Bangabandhu.