Jail Killing Day is set to be observed today, marking the brutal killing of four national leaders inside Dhaka Central Jail.
On 3 November 1975, disgruntled army officers assassinated top four leaders of Awami League – Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmad, M Mansur Ali and AHM Qamaruzzaman – inside the jail.
The four national leaders played a crucial role in forming the first government of Bangladesh (Mujibnagar government) which led the country’s War of Independence in 1971.
Syed Nazrul Islam was the acting president while Tajuddin Ahmad was the prime minister of the Mujibnagar government, Mansur Ali the finance minister and AHM Qamaruzzaman the home, relief and rehabilitation affairs minister.
The killing of the four leaders was another disgraceful incident in the country’s history after the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members on 15 August 1975.
The barbaric killing took place just 79 days after the 15 August massacre.
During the AL regime, the Sheikh Hasina government shifted Dhaka Central Jail to Keraniganj on the outskirts of the capital and turned the cells of the jail on Nazimuddin Road into museums.
Murals of the four national leaders were also set up on the premises of the jail. The belongings of the four leaders have been preserved there.
