The nation observed Shaheed Noor Hossain Day on Sunday in a befitting manner. The day is observed every year in recognition of the supreme sacrifice that Noor Hossain, a leader of Awami Jubo League, made to restore democracy in Bangladesh. On 10 November 1987, Noor Hossain, was killed in police firing while protesting the autocratic rule of HM Ershad in the capital's zero point near GPO. He painted a slogan 'Ganatantra Mukti Paak, Shoirachar Nipaat Jaak' (Let democracy be freed, down with autocracy) on his bare chest and back. It is his sacrifice and also that of some others including another Jubo League leader Nurul Huda Babul and farmers' leader Aminul Huda Tito, who were also killed in the police firing, for which the downfall of HM Ershad was expedited. The autocratic regime eventually came to an end with the resignation of Ershad on December 6 in 1990 and after that parliamentary democracy was re-introduced in the country.
Here we would like to remember with great honor the sacrifice of Noor Hossain and others. We also remember the contributions the Awami League, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and other political parties and socio-cultural and professional organizations made during the mass upsurge of late 90s for the restoration of democracy. We are glad that the nation has not forgotten their sacrifice. But at the same time we cannot but express our disgruntlement over the fact that even after thirty years of the sacrifice of Noor Hossain and 27 years after the restoration of democracy, democracy is yet to be institutionalized in the country.
We feel the sacrifice of Shaheed Noor Hossain and other martyrs of anti-autocracy movement will be given full honor only when we would be able to establish democracy at sphere of our national life, particularly in the government system.
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