Tomorrow is the 19th death anniversary of the Independence Award winning veteran freedom fighter, lawmaker and eminent labour leader Ahsan Ullah Master.
On this occasion, elaborate programmes have been taken by Shaheed Ahsan Ullah Master Foundation and Shaheed Ahsan Ullah Master Smriti Parishad in different areas, including Dhaka and Gazipur.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave separate messages today, paying rich tributes to Ahsan Ullah Master, a true solider of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
In his message, the President recalled Ahsan Ullah Master's contribution to the country's democratic movements and politics as a labor leader and a devoted and dedicated leader of Bangladesh Awami League.
Shahabuddin said that Ahsan Ullah was a selfless leader of democracy, who was always vocal in realizing the just rights of the workers and never wavered in realizing the rights of hardworking people.
The head of the state said sacrificial and compassionate leadership like Shahid Ahsan Ullah Master will show the way of light to the new generation in the betterment of democracy, including realization of the rights of hardworking people.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, said a lifelong devotee to humanitarian service, Ahsan Ullah Master was involved in various national and international social organizations, including teachers association.
The premier said after the dissolution of the Upazila Parishad in 1992, he filed a case on behalf of the Upazila Parishad Chairmen as the convener of the association and formed a nationwide movement and subsequently he was arrested and imprisoned.
She said Ahsan Ullah Master's dream was to build a drug-terror-free Tongi-Gazipur, but he had to embrace death as part of the BNP-Jamaat government's blueprint to wipe out popular Awami League leaders designed by the then "Hawa Bhaban".
Some of his students, like Omar Farooq Ratan, had also to face martyrdom to save their beloved teacher Ahsan Ullah Master, Sheikh Hasina noted.
"Not only that, after the assassination of Ahsan Ullah Master, the police of the coalition government killed two more innocent people by firing on the agitation programme and protesting crowds and arrested thousands of leaders and workers of Awami League, Jubo League and Chhatra League," she added.
Sheikh Hasina prayed for eternal peace of his departed soul.
Marking the day, wreaths will be placed at the grave of Shaheed Ahsan Ullah Master at Hyderabad village of Ward 39 of Gazipur City Corporation tomorrow.
Besides, different political and socio-cultural organizations, including Gazipur Metropolitan unit of Awami League, Gazipur Journalists Union, Bhawal Sahitya O Sanskritik Parishad, Bhawal Ideal Academy, Hyderabad Janakalyan Samiti and Bhawal Shishu Kishore Forum are expected to organize discussions, milad and doa-mahfils, marking the day.
Shaheed Ahsan Ullah Master was elected Member of Parliament from Gazipur-2 constituency (Gazipur Sadar-Tongi) twice in 1996 and 2001, Chairman of Gazipur Sadar Upazila Parishad in 1990 and Chairman of Pubail Union Parishad twice in 1983 and 1988. He was a member of the National Committee of the Awami League.
He was the executive president and general secretary of the Jatiya Sramik League. He was also the chairman of Bangladesh Institute of Labor Studies (BILS).
On May 7, 2004, during the then BNP-Jamaat regime, a group of terrorists gunned him down at a public rally on the Noagaon MA Majid Mia High School ground.
Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha