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The Jail Killing Day will be observed on Tuesday as the day is the second disgraceful incident in the country after the brutal murder of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family members on August 15 in 1975.
On November 3, 1975, four national leaders, and heroes of the country’s Liberation War — 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, which led the Liberation War in 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.
The nation will remember the four national leaders who were also the great heroes of the liberation war, on Tuesday with due respect.
Different political parties including the ruling Awami League (AL) will observe the mournful day throughout the country following the health guidelines because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The AL has chalked out elaborate programems including hoisting of the national and party flags at half-mast at the party’s central office and Bangabandhu Bhaban as well as unit offices across the country at the down on the day. Wearing of black badges and hoisting of the black flags are also included in the programme.
President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in separate messages, paid rich tributes to four national leaders on the occasion of the Jail Killing Day recalling their immense contributions to the War of Liberation.
In his message, the President said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s close aides four national leaders — Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmed, Captain M Mansur Ali and AHM Qamaruzzaman — were brutally killed by anti-liberation forces inside the Dhaka Central Jail on November 3, 1975.
“I am recalling them with profound respect,” he added.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, termed the November 3 (Jail Killing Day) a stigmatised day in the history of independent Bangladesh and said such killings in the safe custody of jail are unprecedented in the world’s history.
Sheikh Hasina said the killing of the four national leaders was the sequel to the assassination of the Father of the Nation.
Through the hateful killings, the defeated forces of the Liberation War and anti-state cliques wanted to erase the name of Bangladesh Awami League forever from the soil of Bangladesh and to destroy the spirit of Liberation War, she added.
Khondoker Mustaque Ahmad and the other two killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman—Colonel (retd) Syed Faruque Rahman and Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Khondoker Abdur Rashid-had designed the heinous killing spree of the four national leaders inside the jail.
A five-member killing squad also was formed led by Resalder Musleh Uddin who was very much close to Colonel (retd) Faruque Rahman.
“Khondoker Mustaque Ahmad had designed the heinous killing plot exclusively with Faruque Rahman and Abdur Rashid”, said Golam Murshid in his book ‘Muktijuddo O Tarpar’.
A probe commission was formed on September 18 in 1980 in London over the killings of August 15 in 1975 and subsequently the jail killing on November 3 in the same year.
“The probe commission was formed following an appeal lodged by Bangabandhu’s two daughters Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana, Mohammad Selim, son of Monsur Ali and Syed Ashraful Islam, son of slain leader Syed Nazrul Islam”, said Prof. Abu Sayeed in his book ‘Bangabandhu murder facts and documents.
In that time, the probe commission became ineffective due to non-cooperation by the then Bangladesh government led by President Ziaur Rahman and refused to provide visa by the government to a probe commission member.