Remembering a Martyr
January 20 is the 44th death anniversary of Amanullah Mohammad Asaduzzaman (10 June 1942 – 20 January 1969). Asad was a student activist and stood strongly against the dictatorial regime of Ayub Khan. He was killed by the police during a protest on January 20, 1969 which turned the protest into a mass upheaval. He was one of the three martyrs of the 1969 uprising in East Pakistan which set the stage for the liberation war.
Study and Politics
* Asad was admitted to Dhaka University in 1963 as a student of Bachelor of Arts.
* He passed a Master of Arts course from the same university in 1967
* He also passed the Law course with outstanding results
* From the very beginning of his university life he was an active member of the East Pakistan Students Union.
* He was the President of the Dhaka Hall Unit of East Pakistan Students Union (Menon Group)
* He was also the General Secretary of the Dhaka branch of that organisation
Politics for People
* In his political activities, Asaduzzaman was interested in the educational rights of the poor and powerless
* He founded a night school named Shibpur Naisha Biddalaya where underpriviledged children were educated free of cost
* He collected funds for setting up a college (Shibpur College) for local people
* he organised the Krishak Samity in Shibpur, Monohardi, Raipura and Narsingdi areas at the direction of Maulana * * Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, President of National Awami Party
The Final Procession
* Asad was a strong supporter of Shiekh Mujib's six point movement and strongly protested the Agartala conspiracy case against Mujib
* He organised many processions of agitated students protesting the vile conspiracy against Bangabandhu and the Bengalis
* On January 20 the then Governor Monem Khan imposed section 144 banning assembly of no more than four persons
* Asad continued with his procession from Dhaka Medical College towards Chan Khar Pool.
* At that time he was shot at point blank range by a police officer and embraced martyrdom
The Glorious Aftermath
! Asad's death turned the procession into a mass upheaval
! Due to the mass upheaval of 1969 Ayub Khan was forced to resign
! Ayub Khan also withdrew all cases against Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
! Mass upheaval of 1969 paved the way for the liberation of Bangladesh
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