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Published on June 22, 2014
It is the party that steered the nation through post-partition quagmires, voiced the demands and aspirations of the people of this delta and finally led the Liberation War against West Pakistan to free the people from the centuries-old subordination.
With a golden past and grand present, Awami League represents the mainstream of the progressive, non-communal, democratic and nationalist politics of Bangladesh. The party boasts of a glorious past featuring relentless and uncompromising struggles against autocracy and communalism, against political and economic domination.
The game-changer of politics of the then Pakistan which began an epic journey with Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the helm, now is steered by Sheikh Hasina, the daughter of the Bangabandhu, the Father of the nation, the Greatest Bangalee ever lived, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
On the aftermath of the end of British colonialism in Indian sub-continent, a political party was born with dream to free the most outstanding and unique group of people in the East Pakistan. On June 23, 1949, from a meeting of the leaders and activists known to be the supporters of Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy at the Rose Garden of KM Das lane, Dhaka, formed the party named Awami Muslim League. Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani became the President, Shamsul Haq of Tangail the Secretary while Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was made the Joint Secretary. It was the first opposition party in the then East Bengal (later renamed East Pakistan). In a process of secularization, the word- Muslim was later dropped from the name of the party.
From its very inception, the party was always involved with every movement for the rights of the people. In 1952, during the Language Movement, the party played a significant role. In 1954, it was crucial in forging an alliance with other opposition parties and won the East Bengal elections on a platform of autonomy.
In 1962, it was once again at the forefront of the anti-Ayub movement. In 1964, it spearheaded the movement to restore peace after the communal riots. In 1966, it proposed the Six-Points program and later in 1969 overthrew Ayub in a mass upsurge.
In the general elections of 1970, the people of Bangladesh gave an absolute majority to the Awami League and in continuation Bangabandhu on March 7, 1971 told the people the struggle now was for freedom, for independence.
Despite the Dark Night of March 25, 1971 the people of this country under the leadership of Awami League succeeded in freeing the country from the clutches of the occupiers within a short span of nine months.
After independence when Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was busy rebuilding the nation, the anti- national forces struck again. On August 15, 1975 they killed Bangabandhu and his family.
A few months later, on November 3, 1975 the four national leaders were killed in prison to make Awami league leaderless.
But the leaders and workers of Awami League regrouped and in 1996 Awami League again returned to power. In this short -period, the historic Indo-Bangla Ganges Water Treaty and the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Agreement were signed.
A chronically food-deficit country, Bangladesh, was made into a food surplus country. Neutralizing all conspiracies the Awami League was, once gain, elected to power in 2008. It was a victory for the sacrifice and patience of Awami League leaders and workers.
From 2009 to 2013, the Awami League government made tremendous progress in all sectors, which will remain a milestone in the history of the country.
In continuation of the process, the Awami League government has developed visions for the country for 2021 and 2041 for a poverty, terror, corruption and illiteracy-free and prosperous, peaceful, non-communal and welfare state.
In her message, Prime Minister of Bangladesh and President of the Bangladesh Awami League Sheikh Hasina said, 'Awami League has a glorious role in every major and great achievement of the nation. In future, too, it will remain with the people.'
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