Dhaka: President Mohammed Shahabuddin has called upon all to work unitedly to uphold the country’s independence and democracy, which were achieved through a long struggle. In a message on the eve of the historic Mass Upsurge Day, he described the 1969 Mass Upsurge as an unforgettable chapter in the history of Bangladesh’s independence movement and democratic process.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the President highlighted how on January 24, 1969, politicians, students, teachers, and the general populace defied a curfew to demand an end to the repression and oppression carried out by the then ruling group and to overthrow the Pakistani military regime. In this context, he mentioned the martyrdom of Matiur Rahman, a class IX student of the Nabakumar Institution in Dhaka, and other brave children who faced police firing during anti-government demonstrations.
Paying profound respect to the memory of the independence movement martyrs on that day in 1969, President Shahabuddin prayed for the eternal peace of the departed souls of all the martyrs, including Shaheed Matiur. He emphasized that the sacrifices made by Matiur and other martyrs during the popular mass upsurge of 1969 paved the way for the freedom and democratic rights the country enjoys today.
The President further noted that the popular mass upsurge of 1969 has continued to inspire the people in all democratic movements and struggles of the country, including the student-led mass uprising in July-August 2024.