Today is the 60th founding anniversary of the ruling Awami League.
On this day in 1949, East Pakistan Awami Muslim League was founded at the historic Rose Garden in Old Dhaka.
Later, the word 'Muslim' was dropped from the name of the party to give it a secular colour.
The AL led all democratic movements of the then East Pakistan starting from the Language Movement of 1952 to War of Liberation of Bangladesh in 1971 under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
To observe the day, AL has chalked out a two-day programmes including hoisting of national and party flags atop AL offices across the country at 5:30am, placing of wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi at 7:00am and bringing out a colourful procession from Shikha Chirantan at Suhrawardy Udyan at 2:00pm.
In the evening, a cultural function will be held at Paltan Maidan.
Besides, AL delegation led by party presidium member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim will place wreaths at the grave of Bangabandhu at Tungipara in Gopalganj and take part in a discussion.
On June 24, a discussion to be followed by a cultural function will be held at Paltan Maidan at 2:00pm.
AL spokesperson and LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Syed Ashraful Islam yesterday urged all the party leaders, workers and activists to observe the day across the country in a befitting manner.
AL chief Sheikh Hasina and party General Secretary Abdul Jalil have given separate messages on the occasion greeting party leaders, workers, supporters and well-wishers.
In her message, Hasina said the AL, a glorious emblem of leading various movements including the liberation war since its inception has now become an institution.
Recalling the outstanding contributions of Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani, Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, four national leaders and other previous AL leaders and workers towards establishing the party, she said AL has become an organisation of mass people due to their labour, merit and sacrifice.
Jalil in his statement said to build a digital Bangladesh is now the challenge before the party and the government.
"Only a disciplined political party which believes the principles of Bangabandhu can build up Digital Bangladesh," he added.
The AL general secretary observed that the extremism and defeated forces of the liberation war are out to foil the landslide victory of AL in December 29 elections.