Shaheed Noor Hossain Day, commemorating the martyrdom of a young pro-democracy activist during the anti-Ershad movement in the late 80s, was observed on Thursday.
Different socio-political organisations marked the day amid various programmes.
Leaders and activists of different political parties, including Awami League and BNP, their associate bodies, paid tributes to the martyr placing wreaths at Noor Hossain Square, in the morning. Noor Hossain’s elder brother Ali Hossain also placed wreaths at Noor Hossain Square in the morning. He later went to his brother’s Jurain graveyard and offered fateha there.
Noor Hossain Smrity Sangsad organised a discussion at the Jatiya Press Club. Food Minister Quamrul Islam attended it as the chief guest. Youth Form, a pro-BNP platform, arranged another discussion at the Jatiya Press Club in observance of the day. Noor Hossain Foundation also observed the day with various programmes, including placing wreaths at his grave.
On November 10, 1987, Noor Hossain, a leader of Awami Juba League, was killed in police firing when he had staged protest against the then autocratic rule of Lt Gen HM Ershad at the capital’s zero point near Gulistan.
The 26-year-old took to the streets with the slogan ‘Swairachar Nipat Jak, Gonotantra Mukti Pak’ (down with autocracy, let democracy be freed) inscribed in white on his chest and back. His death sparked a mass uprising that finally overthrew the Ershad regime.
