Shawdesh Desk:

The nation will observe the historic Six-point Day today, commemorating the Awami League-led movement for autonomy in 1966 that ultimately led to the liberation struggle.

This day in 1966, 11 people, including Monu Mia, Shafiq and Shamsul Haque, were killed in police firing during a hartal called by Awami League in support of its six-point programme announced by party leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, demanding autonomy for the then East Pakistan (Now Bangladesh).

The six-point programme, known as the Magna Carta of the Bengalis, resulted in a massive movement against the misrule of the central government.

To foil this movement, the government unleashed a reign of terror and arrested all senior leaders of the Awami League, including Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

In protest, the party called a hartal on June 7, 1966. During the complete shutdown across East Pakistan, police resorted to torture and arrest of thousands of Awami League workers.

But, the government repression triggered massive protests from the people and the movement intensified fast.

The students launched the 11-point movement which included the six-point demand and the historic mass upsurge of 1969 took place forcing the fall of President Ayub Khan and the release of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who was under trial in Agartola conspiracy case.

Then the first Pakistan-based general election was held in December 1970 and the Awami League sought people’s mandate and achieved a massive victory.

But, the Pakistani rulers refused to transfer power to Awami League. Bangabandhu called for a non-cooperation movement that culminated into the liberation struggle and finally the War of Independence. Thus the six-point movement contributed greatly to the liberation of Bangladesh.

Marking the day, Bangladesh Awami League observes the historic six-point day with due importance.

The party pays homage at the portrait of Bangabandhu on the historic Bangabandhu Bhaban premises at Dhanmondi at 9:00am and hoists the national and party flags on the premises of the central office in Dhaka and its offices across the country, said a press release.

Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader instructed all party and associate body leaders and activists to observe the day following the Covid-19 health guidelines.