Awami League’s 72nd founding anniversary today

Ruling Bangladesh Awami League, the political party that led the country’s War of Liberation, is celebrating its 72nd founding anniversary today (Wednesday, June 23).

Born on 23 June 1949 in the historic Rose Garden at KM Das Lane of Old Dhaka, the Awami League is one of the oldest political parties in the subcontinent. 

From the very beginning, Awami League has been leading the sociopolitical trend of the country amid different struggles and movements in the seven decades.

After the Liberation War, the party’s leader Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Father of the Nation, began to build Bangladesh as a non-communal country.

In line with her father’s ideology, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is heading the country towards massive development.

On June 23, 1949, from a meeting of the supporters of Hussein Shaheed Suhrawardy at the Rose Garden of KM Das Lane, Old Dhaka, a new political party named Awami Muslim League was formed.

Coming out from Muslim League, progressive leaders and workers formed Awami Muslim League. It was the first opposition party in the then East Bengal (later renamed East Pakistan).

Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani became the President, Shamsul Haq of Tangail as General Secretary while Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was made as Joint Secretary. In a process of secularization, the word “Muslim” was later dropped from the name of the party.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman came to the leadership of Awami League amid 1966 Council. Later, he became the unparallel leader of Bangalee nation and architect of Independent Bangladesh and Father of the Nation.

Awami League led the Mass Upsurge against the Pakistani occupied force in 1969, prompting to join the Liberation War in 1971 to free the people from the centuries-old subordination.

After the independence, Awami League was in power around three and a half years before the assassination of Bangabandhu and five years from 1996 to 2001 under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina and since 2009 general elections to present.

After the defeat in 2001 general election, Awami League waged successful movement against the then BNP-Jamaat led alliance government.
In 2007, military-backed caretaker government declared a state of emergency. Awami League President Sheikh Hasina and top leaders of the party were arrested. As a result, the party was in crisis in this period.

But, overcoming all hurdles and hostilities, Awami League and grand alliance under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina achieved a landslide victory on December 29, 2008 national election.

On January 6, 2009, grand alliance led by Awami League formed government. Sheikh Hasina became prime minister for third times when Awami League formed government after winning the January 5, 2014 general elections.

In the general election on December 30 in 2018, the Awami League won the election and formed government for a record third straight term. Awami League President Sheikh Hasina became the prime minister for the fourth time and third in a row.

The ruling Awami League (AL) has taken limited scale programme marking its 72nd founding anniversary.