DHAKA, May 6, 2024 (BSS) - The 20th death anniversary of the
Independence Award winning veteran freedom fighter,
lawmaker and eminent labour leader Ahsan Ullah Master will be
observed tomorrow.

On this occasion, elaborate programmes have been taken by
Shaheed Ahsan Ullah Master Foundation and Shaheed Ahsan
Ullah Master Smriti Parishad in different areas, including Dhaka
and Gazipur.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina issued separate messages today, paying rich tributes to
Ahsan Ullah Master, a true solider of Father of the Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

In his message, the President recalled Ahsan Ullah Master's
contribution to the country's democratic movements and
politics as a labor leader and a devoted and dedicated leader of
Bangladesh Awami League.

Shahabuddin said that Ahsan Ullah was a selfless leader of
democracy, who was always vocal in realizing the just rights of
the workers and never wavered in realizing the rights of
hardworking people.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, said a lifelong
devotee to humanitarian service, Ahsan Ullah Master was
involved in various national and international social
organizations, including teachers association.

The Premier said after the dissolution of the Upazila Parishad
in 1992, he filed a case on behalf of the Upazila Parishad
Chairmen as the convener of the association and formed a
nationwide movement and subsequently he was arrested and
imprisoned.

She said Ahsan Ullah Master’s dream was to build a drug-terror-
free Tongi-Gazipur, but he had to embrace death as part of the
BNP-Jamaat government’s blueprint of the then ‘Hawa Bhaban’
to wipe out popular Awami League leaders.

Some of his students, like Omar Farooq Ratan, had also to face
martyrdom to save their beloved teacher Ahsan Ullah Master,
Sheikh Hasina noted.

"Not only that, after the assassination of Ahsan Ullah Master, the
police of the coalition government killed two more innocent
people by firing on the agitation programme and protesting
crowds and arrested thousands of leaders and workers of
Awami League, Jubo League and Chhatra League," she added.

Sheikh Hasina prayed for eternal peace of his departed soul.
Marking the day, wreaths will be placed at the grave of Shaheed
Ahsan Ullah Master at Hyderabad village of Gazipur City
Corporation tomorrow.

Besides, different political and socio-cultural organizations,
including Gazipur Metropolitan unit of Awami League, Gazipur
Journalists Union, Bhawal Sahitya O Sanskritik Parishad, Bhawal
Ideal Academy, Hyderabad Janakalyan Samiti and Bhawal Shishu
Kishore Forum are expected to organize discussions, milad and
doa-mahfils, marking the day.

Shaheed Ahsan Ullah Master was elected Member of Parliament
from Gazipur-2 constituency (Gazipur Sadar-Tongi) twice in
1996 and 2001, Chairman of Gazipur Sadar Upazila Parishad in
1990 and Chairman of Pubail Union Parishad twice in 1983 and
1988. He was a member of the National Committee of the Awami
League.

He was the executive president and general secretary of the
Jatiya Sramik League. He was also the chairman of Bangladesh
Institute of Labor Studies (BILS).

On May 7, 2004, during the then BNP-Jamaat regime, a group of
terrorists gunned him down at a public rally on Noagaon MA
Majid Mia High School ground.