Shakil's first anniversary of death today

Today is the first death anniversary of Mahbubul Hoque Shakil, late special assistant to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Apart from family, different organisations in the capital and his home district Mymensingh have chalked out various programmes including doa, milad mahfil, destitute feeding and discussions to mark the anniversary.

Shakil died of cardiac arrest on December 6 last year. He was 47.

A popular face among youths and in student politics, Shakil was a forefront leader of anti-autocracy students' movement in the 1980s. He was a good organiser and omnipresent with his high-pitched slogans -- “Down with autocrat” -- in the processions on the Dhaka University campus and beyond during the turbulent times of General Ershad.

Shakil's family will hold a milad mahfil at their Baghmara residence in Mymensingh town after the Asr prayers today. Wreaths will be placed at his grave.

Mymensingh district Awami League will hold a discussion tomorrow on the district town hall premises to commemorate the death anniversary of Shakil, also a former senior vice-president and organising secretary of Bangladesh Chhatra League.

Central and local AL leaders will take part in the discussion starting at 3:00pm.

Mahbubul Hoque Shakil Sangsad will organise a doa and milad mahfil at Dhaka University central mosque on Friday after the Juma prayers, said Kamal Pasha Chowdhury, member-secretary of the sangsad.

Besides, they will also hold a discussion and a cultural programme on December 20 at the Bangla Academy to mark Shakil's 49th birth anniversary, where Finance Minister AMA Muhith will be present as the chief guest, he said. A young poet will be awarded the “Shakil Padak” on the day.

Shakil had a great liking for both poetry and prose writings. He was published thrice as a poet in book forms -- "Kherokhatar Pata Theke", "Mon Kharaper Gari" and “Jole Khuji Dhatob Mudra” -- to his credit. He also wrote a book of short stories.