BSS, Dhaka :The nation will observe the historic Mass Upsurge Day today to commemorate the valiant sons of the soil who sacrificed their lives during the movement in 1969 that culminated in the independence movement of the country.This day in 1969, students and people waged a strong movement against the then Pakistani autocratic regime of Ayub Khan.The movement then turned into a mass upsurgefollowing the martyrdom of Motiur Rahman, a student of class IX of Nabakumar Institute in Dhaka. Motiur was shot dead in a procession that was brought out in Dhaka in protest against the death of Asad by Pakistani police.Asad was an MA final-year student of the History Department at Dhaka University during the movement in 1969. Since then, the day is being observed as Mass Upsurge Day in the country every year.Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave a message highlighting the significance of the day. In her message, she termed the 1969 Mass Upsurge a significant milestone in the history of Bangladesh’s struggle for independence.She said the country achieved its long-cherished independence by going through with the language movement of 1952, six-point and 11-point movements in 1966, the 1969 Mass Upsurge and the Liberation War in 1971. The prime minister recalled with gratitude the immense contributions of Shaheed Motiur Rahman and other martyrs and prayed for the eternal peace of their departed souls.To mark the day, different socio-cultural organisations and political parties have chalked out elaborate programmes. The programmes include placing floral wreaths at the grave and portraits of Asad, Motiur and Rustom, holding of discussions on the lives of the martyrs and offering fateha at their graves.
