DT e-Paper, Friday, Decdember 20, 2017

6
FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2017
DT
2nd phase of
Biswa Ijtema
begins today
• Raihanul Islam Akand,
Gazipur
News
SHAHEED ASAD DAY
Martyr unknown to
new generation
39 sued in
Sunamganj
triple murder
case
• Himadri Shekor Vodro,
Sunamganj
The three-day second phase of the
52th Biswa Ijtema will begin today
on the bank of Turag River at Tongi
on the outskirts of Dhaka.
Members from different law
enforcement agencies have been
deployed in and around the Ijtema
ground for ensuring security of the
devotees.
The three-day second phase
will begin after the first phase of
the Biswa Ijtema. The first phase
started on January 13 and ended on
January 15.
The second phase of the Ijtema
will end through ‘Akheri Munajat’
on January 22.
Gazipur district administration
and other relevant authorities completed
all preparations for the Ijtema.
Thousands of devotees from 17
countries started congregating on
the bank of the river to take part in
the religious event to seek divine
blessings of the Almighty Allah.
Tablig Jamaat has been organizing
the Ijtema at the venue since
1967.
Asaduzzaman Kiron, acting
mayor of Gazipur City Corporation,
said several health centres had
been set up at different parts of the
venue along with beds and almost
all first aid and other treatment facilities.
•
• Asaduzzaman Ripon,
Narsingdi
After 48 years, Amanullah Mohammad
Asad, who sacrificed his life on
January 20 in 1969 for protesting the
Pakistani military regime’s repression
on Banglaees, has become almost an
unknown martyr to the new generation
of Bangladesh.
Though several institutions,
including Government Shaheed Asad
College and Shaheed Asad Collegiate
Girls’ High School, and a road named
Shaheed Asad Road are there at his
birthplace Shibpur of Narsingdi, new
generation, including the students of
the institutions, know very little about
Asad and his political views.
The responsibilities end through
placing wreaths at the grave of the
martyr at Dhanua village in Shibpur on
this day.
When our correspondent asked
about Shaheed Asad to several students
of Shaheed Asad Collegiate Girls’
High School, only some of them could
say that he was the hero of 1969’s
mass upsurge but failed to say any
detail about him and the history.
Some of the students said Asad was
a freedom fighter, some said he was a
language movement activist and some
other said he was a student leader.
Similarly, many studnts of Government
Shaheed Asad College could not
say anything about Asad.
The students alleged that there was
nothing written about Asad in their
text books.
They only go to the graveyard of
Asad to place wearths every year, they
told the Dhaka Tribune.
Selina Begum, principal of Government
Shaheed Asad College, said
the new generation did not know
about Asad, as there was no discussion
on him in text books or elsewhere.
“We feel ashamed of the ignorance
of our students about Asad, as he is the
pride of Narshingdi,” said Selina.
However, she said she would take
steps so that the students could know
about him through the teachers.
Asad was killed when the Pakistani
police opened fire at a protest rally
near Dhaka Medical College Hospital
(DMCH) against the atrocities on the
people of East Pakistan.
The death of Asad, then a master’s
student at Dhaka University (DU),
reached the mass upsurge to the highest
peak ,which hastened the fall of the
military ruler Field Marshal Ayub Khan
after over a decade of his iron rule.
The nation achieved independence
in 1971 following the nine-month War
of Liberation in continuation of the
1969 mass upsurge.
President M Abdul Hamid and
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued
separate messages paying tribute to
the memory of Shaheed Asad on the
occasion of Shaheed Asad Day, reports
BSS.
Different socio-cultural and political
organisations, including Shaheed Asad
Parishad, have chalked out various programmes
that include placing wreaths
at the memorial plaque of Asad in front
of the DMCH and his grave at Shibpur. •
At least 39 people, including Awami
League leaders Hafizur Rahman
Talukder, Mosharrof Hossain and
Pradip Rai, yesterday were sued in
connection with triple murder in
Dirai, Sunamganj.
Ekrar Hossain filed the case with
the Dirai police station in the afternoon,
said Officer-in-Charge (OC)
Abdul Jalil.
Ekrar Hossain filed
the case with the
Dirai police station
in the afternoon
Ekrar, stating he has lost three of
his close people during the clash
and many injured, urged the law
enforcers to arrest the accused soon
and bring this murder to justice.
Incidentally, three members of
local fishermen families – Tajul Islam,
32, Ujjal Miah, 35 and Shaharul
Islam – were killed during a clash
over the Jalmahal lease between
the supporters of two local influential
individuals, Ekrar Hossain and
Dhonjoy.
The clash took place over fishing
in the water body and the situation
was brought under control by the
local police. •
Fishermen found a Toyota Prado under the Shitalakkhya River while casting their nets yesterday morning.
The car’s condition indicates it had been there for some time
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Suspected robber killed in ‘gunfight’
• Kudrote Khoda Sobuj, Kushtia
A suspected robber has been killed in a ‘gunfight’
with police in Alampur area under Mirpur
upazila of Kushita district.
The deceased is Amirul Islam Amir, 45, son
of one late Moslem Uddin of Ambaria village.
“Acting on a tip-off, police conducted a drive
on Kushtia-Jhenaidah highway where the robbers
had gathered for carrying out a robbery
around 1am on Thursday,” district DB police OC
Sabbirul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune. “Sensing
our presence, the robbers opened fire at us
that left two policemen injured.”
In retaliation, police fired back that triggering
a “gunfight”.
Later, Amir’s body was recovered from
the spot while the other managed to flee the
scene. Meanwhile, police recovered a gun,
three bullets and two sharp weapons from
the spot. The body has been sent to Kushtia
General Hospital. •