Staff Reporter :
Awami League (AL) General Secretary Obaidul Quader emphasized the significance of the historic six-point demand, stating that those who fail to respect this pivotal event do not truly believe in the country’s independence.
Quader, who also serves as the Road Transport and Bridges Minister, made these remarks to journalists yesterday, commemorating the historic six-point day after paying homage at the portrait of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in front of Bangabandhu Bhaban.
The six-point demand, presented on June 7, 1966, by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was a monumental moment in the struggle for the liberation of East Pakistan, now Bangladesh. This demand, often referred to as the Magna Carta of the Bangalees, sought autonomy for the region and marked a decisive turn in the movement against Pakistani rule.
Quader highlighted the enduring impact of the six-point demand on the liberation war movement. He noted that the June 7 strike, which resulted in the deaths of several labor leaders, catalyzed the broader 11-point agitation led by student forums. This movement was a direct response to the neglect East Bengal faced during the 1965 war between India and Pakistan, which underscored the region’s vulnerability under central Pakistani governance.
The AL General Secretary underscored the necessity of the six-point demand, stating that it laid the groundwork for the mass upsurge of 1969, which was crucial in the eventual fight for independence. He also pointed out the systematic efforts by Bangabandhu’s assassins to erase the significance of these historic dates after 1975.
The observance of June 7 and March 7, along with the spirit of the Liberation War and the ideology of independence, were suppressed during their tenure.
“These evil forces not only killed Bangabandhu but also attempted to extinguish the spirit of our Liberation War and the ideology of our independence. That’s why ‘Joy Bangla’ and these significant dates were banished along with Bangabandhu,” Quader explained.
Awami League Presidium Members Abdur Razzaq, Dr. Mustafa Jalal Mohiuddin, Joint General Secretaries Mahbubul Alam Hanif and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Organising Secretaries Mirza Azam, SM Kamal Hossain, Science and Technology Secretary Engineer Abdus Sabur and Office Secretary Barrister Biplob Barua, among others, were present.