CHATTOGRAM, Aug 17, 2020 (BSS)- With a focus on the significance of grassroots leadership for survival of Awami League, Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today said Awami League has survived due to grassroots-level leaders and workers and apt leadership of Sheikh Hasina.
While paying rich tribute to Ranguniya Awami League leader Khalilur Rahman and recalling his (Khalilur) rare show of dedication and sacrifice without looking for any personal benefit, Hasan urged new generation of AL leaders and workers to follow the path of Khalilur Rahman.
“Late Khalilur Rahman Chowdhury is an example before the leaders and activists of Awami League in Ranguniya . . . He (Khalilur) had no greed and he rose to a leadership position of Awami League from a grassroots labour leader,” Hasan said.
The information minister was addressing a memorial meeting on late Ranguniya Upazila Parishad Chairman and former AL upazila unit President Khalilur Rahman Chowdhury at the upazila parishad auditorium.
Hasan said late Khalilur Rahman served as AL upazila unit president, municipality mayor and upazila parishad chairman for long. But he used to live in a tin-shed house where meetings were held during the crisis time of AL, he added.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) presided over the meeting while Assistant Education Officer Nizam Uddin conducted it.
Ranguniya Upazila Parishad and Upazila Administration jointly organized the memorial meeting.
Acting upazila chairman Md Shafiqul Islam, AL leaders Jahir Ahmed Chowdhury, Swajan Kumar Talukder, Md Shahjahan Sikdar, Abul Kashem Chisti, Iddris Asgar, Abdul Monaf Sikdar, Engineer Shamsul Alam Talukder and Aslam Khan, woman vice chairman Ayesha Akter and Freedom Fighter Commander Khairul Bashar Munsi, among others, addressed the meeting.
Hasan said Awami League could not hold any meeting in Ranguniya during the BNP regime between 2001 and 2006 due to its leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury. Meetings were held in the yard of the house of Khalilur Rahman Chowdhury and brick-bats were also thrown at those meetings, he added.
He said many AL leaders were injured during the meetings and “we had to do politics in unfavourable conditions.”
“They (BNP) tried to create barriers in every meeting and rally. But, we never backtracked. We always fought,” said Hasan, also AL joint general secretary.
The information minister said late Khalilur Rahman earned love and affection of the people beyond his party orbit. There was no other competitor to contest when he (Khalilur Rahman) became a candidate for the upazila chairman post in the election in 2019, he added.
He said leaders and workers of every political party used to respect Khalilur Rahman.
The information minister urged the new generation of Awami League leaders and workers to take lesson from the life and works of late Khalilur Rahman.
“He served as upazila unit president of AL for long 15 years. He also served as municipality mayor and upazila parishad chairman. But, he used to live in a tin-shed house,” Hasan added.
The information minister said, “I have been made cabinet minister twice. But he (Khalilur Rahman) never lobbied for any business or favour. Such a leader is really rare. We have lost a great man and I personally lost a mentor.”
Earlier, the information minister distributed cash money of Taka 10 lakh among 300 distressed and helpless people of Ranguniya.
Later, Hasan inaugurated a tree plantation programme on the upazila campus.