The 25th death anniversary of former prime minister and a veteran national leader Ataur Rahman Khan will be observed today.

In observance of the day, Ataur Rahman Khan Smriti Sangsad will hold a memorial programme at Jatiya Press Club in the capital at 3:00pm, said a press release yesterday. 

BNP Standing Committee Member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan will be present as the chief guest while BNP Vice Chairman advocate Khandaker Mahbub Hossain will preside over the programme. Born in 1905 in Balia village of Dhamrai in Dhaka, Ataur Rahman Khan was involved in political movements during British, Pakistani and Bangladesh periods.

He joined Muslim League in 1944 and was elected its Dhaka district vice president. He was also a vice-president of Awami Muslim League when it was formed as the largest opposition political party in Pakistan in 1949.

He took part in the 1952 Language Movement and worked for the United Front popularly known as Jukta Front in 1954.

He was a member of the provincial cabinet of Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq. He was elected a member of the Pakistan Constituent Assembly in 1955.

Ataur Rahman Khan became the chief minister of East Pakistan in 1956 and continued to hold this position till the promulgation of martial law in the country in 1958. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a minister in his cabinet.

As one of the leaders of National Democratic Front (NDF) formed under the leadership of Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy in 1962 he played a vital role in the movement for the restoration of democracy in then Pakistan. He actively campaigned for Fatima Jinnah, the candidate of the combined opposition to defeat the military dictator Ayub Khan in 1965.

Ataur Rahman Khan was elected a member of parliament in the first general election of independent Bangladesh in 1973 and also served as the prime minister of the country from March 30, 1984 to January 1, 1985.

He was a lawyer, politician and writer of a good number of books, namely -- Ozaratir Dui Bachhar (1963), Swairacharer Dash Bachhar (1969), Pradanmantritver Nai Mash (1987), Abaruddha Nai Mash (1990).

Ataur Rahman Khan died in Dhaka on December 7, 1991.

Discussion on Ataur Rahman

Time: 3:00pm today

Venue: Jatiya Press Club