Hasina remembers Noor Hossain

The Prime Minister says the Jubo League activist was killed as he raised his voice for freedom and democracy

Dhaka, Nov 11 (bdnews24.com)—Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said Noor Hossain was killed as he had wanted the fall of despotism and 'freedom of democracy'.

Hasina, also the President of the ruling Awami League, made the comment a day after the then autocrat ruler Hussain Muhammad Ershad blamed the then opposition parties, led by Awami League, for the killing of the anti-autocrat activist in 1987.

"The police of the then autocrat ruler shot dead Noor Hossain as he had a slogan 'Swairachar Nipat Jak, Gonotantra Mukti Pak' (down with autocracy, let democracy be freed) inscribed on his bare chest," she told a programme marking the 40th founding anniversary of Juba League, the youth front of her party, at Bangabandhu International Convention Centre.

Noor Hossain died when the police fired on a pro-democracy procession, taken out against the autocratic regime of HM Ershad, near Zero Point in the city on Nov 10, 1987.

The Jubo League activist had the slogan, 'Swairachar Nipat Jak, Gonotantra Mukti Pak', inscribed in white paint on his bare chest and back when a bullet pierced through his body.

His death strengthened the movement spearheaded by the Awami League-led 15-party alliance and the BNP-led seven-party combine, leading to the fall of Ershad on Dec 6, 1990 and helped restore democracy in the country.

Since then, the country observes Nov 10 as Shaheed Noor Hossain Day every year. The Zero Point has been renamed Noor Hossain Square in his honour.

On Noor Hossain's killing, the chief of Jatiya Party, a key ally of the ruling coalition, on Saturday said corpses were needed to 'spark agitation' against him.

"You (opposition) came up with dead bodies as they were needed to spark demonstration," he said.

Reminiscing the incident, Hasina on Sunday said: "I remember what happened on that day. Noor Hossain was standing beside me when we took out our procession."

"I called him and told him they would kill him for what he had inscribed on his chest. Then he brought his head near the window of my car and said, 'Apa, you just bless me. I will sacrifice my life to free democracy."

Hasina also remembered 'Babul', Dr Milon and others who gave up their lives in the anti-despotism movement in the 90s.

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