Later, the word 'Muslim' was dropped from the name of the party to make it secular.

The Awami League played a pioneering role in all democratic movements starting from the Language Movement of 1952 to the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971 under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

To observe the day, the Awami League will place wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu at Bangabandhu Memorial Building on Road No 32 in Dhanmondi in the capital, and hold a special prayer there at 8:00am.

An Awami League delegation led by Mukul Bose, Col (retd) Faruk Khan, Habibur Rahman Siraj and Talukder Abdul Khaleque will visit Bangabandhu's graveyard at Tungipara in Gopalganj and place wreaths there on behalf of the party.

The Awami League will also organize a discussion on June 25 at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh to mark the day.

Statement

In a statement marking the day, Awami League acting president Zillur Rahman said the country experienced many developments in different sectors during the Awami League regime from 1996 to 2001, but the BNP-Jamaat alliance came to power through rigged polls in 2001 and hampered the development of the country. The country retreated in all sectors. The situation would have to be changed, and people's fate would have to be improved.

"To this end, Awami League will lead the country Insha Allah (If Allah Wills)," said Zillur Rahman.

Prior to her departure for the USA on June 12 for medical treatment, Awami League President and former prime minister Sheikh

Sheikh Hasina asked the Awami League leadership to observe the day in a befitting manner.
Zillur Rahman and Awami League acting general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam have also urged all party leaders and workers to observe the day.