61st death anniversary of Sher-e-Bangla today

Today (April 27) is the 61st death anniversary of Abul Kashem Fazlul Huq, popularly known as Sher-e-Bangla (Tiger of Bengal).

President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have issued separate messages marking the death anniversary of Sher-e-Bangla and recalled his struggle for economic freedom for the peasants and toiling people of this country.

They also prayed for eternal peace of his departed soul.

To mark the day, different political organizations including Awami League have chalked out elaborate programs, giving priority on maintaining proper health guidelines.

Sher-e-Bangla was born on October 26, 1873, at his maternal uncle’s house at Saturia, a village in the southern part of Barishal district.

Huq served as the secretary of the Bengal Provincial Muslim League and joint secretary of the All India Muslim League from 1913-1916.

Next, he served as the president of the All India Muslim League from 1916 to 1921.

He held many key political posts including the mayor of Calcutta (1935), chief minister of undivided Bengal (1937-1943) and East Bengal (1954), home minister of Pakistan (1955), and governor of East Pakistan (1956-58).

Huq also moved the famous Lahore Resolution or declaration of independence of Pakistan in 1940.

The Tiger of Bengal breathed his last in 1962 and was buried on the grounds near Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka.