DHAKA, June 6, 2022 (BSS) - The historic Six-Point Day, marking the demand 
for autonomy for the then East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, will be observed 
tomorrow across the country in a befitting manner.
 
On June 7 in 1966, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman 
launched a massive movement against the misrule of the Pakistanis on the 
basis of the 6-point demand, the Magna Carta of the Bengalis, demanding 
autonomy for the then East Pakistan.
 
Eleven people, including Manu Mian, Shafique and Shamsul Haque, were gunned 
down by the police and paramilitary EPR on June 7, 1966 in Dhaka and 
Narayanganj during a hartal called for the release of Bangabandhu and other 
leaders detained for launching the Six-Point Movement against the then 
barbaric ruling clique.
 
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman launched his historic six-point political 
and economic programme in Lahore on February 5 in 1966, aiming at attaining 
greater autonomy for the then East Pakistan in the backdrop of exploitation 
and discrimination by the then Pakistani rulers.
 
The six-point demands were creating provision in the constitution for a 
Federation of Pakistan in its true sense based on the Lahore Resolution, the 
federal government will deal with only two subjects: Defence and Foreign 
Affairs, introduction of two separate, but freely convertible currencies for 
East and West Pakistan, vesting the power of taxation and revenue collection 
with the federating units, maintaining two separate accounts for the foreign 
exchange earnings of the two wings and creation a separate militia or 
paramilitary force for East Pakistan.
 
President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate 
messages on the eve of the six-point day.
 
In his message, President Hamid paid rich tributes to the memories of Father 
of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and all who embraced 
martyrdom for implementing the six-point demand.
 
Terming the historic six-point demand as the milestone in the country's long 
struggle for independence, he said the independence of Bangalee nation was 
not achieved in a single day.
 
The President said the movement, which was initiated in 1948 with the demand 
for recognition of Bangla as a state language, had successfully culminated 
through the 1952 Language Movement creating the foundation of Bangalee 
nationalism.
 
 
Later, Bangabandhu placed the historic six-point demand in Lahore in 1966 for 
autonomy of Bangalee nation in continuation of formation of Juktofront in 
1954, movement against autocratic rule in 1958 and 1962 Education Commission 
movement.

Through the six-point demand, Hamid said, Bangabandhu presented political, 
economic, social and cultural interests, including along with administrative 
structure, powers of the central government, monetary policy, revenue and tax 
policy, foreign trade and the formation of regional forces, of East Bengal.
 
The President said the six-point demand contained the framework of 
independence and autonomy of Bangalee nation.
 
After the announcement of six-point demand, he said, the Pakistani rulers 
tortured Bangabandhu inhumanly and repeatedly arrested him, but could not 
deter him from the six-point demand.

The historic six-point is not only the charter for emancipation of Bangalees 
rather it is the source of inspiration for movement for emancipation of the 
repressed and persecuted people all over the world, the president added.

"I believe that the young generation will be inspired with patriotism by 
learning from Bangabandhu's six-point demand," Hamid said and urged all to 
fulfill Bangabandhu's dream of building a happy and prosperous 'Sonar Bangla' 
free from hunger and poverty. 
 
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, paid glowing tributes to the 
memories of all martyrs of the struggle for independence including those of 
the June 7 and said that the historic June 7 is an unforgettable and 
significant day in the history of Bangladesh.
 
"The historic movement for six-point demand, declared by the greatest Bengali 
of all time, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, got a 
new dimension on June 7, 1966," she said.
 
The premier said police and the then EPR had opened fire on unarmed people 
during the observing hartal called by Awami League to realize the six-point 
demand, the charter of freedom of the Bangalee nation.
 
Eleven people including Manu Mian, Shafique and Shamsul Haque in Dhaka and 
Narayanganj had embraced martyrdom on that day, Sheikh Hasina added.
 
The present government is firmly committed to keep intact the democratic 
rights of the people imbued with the spirit of all democratic movements and 
struggles, including the historic June 7, she said, adding "We are taking the 
country forward with the spirit of the Liberation War. We are working to 
reach the benefits of independence to all people of the country".
 
 
Noting that Bangladesh is now the 31st largest economy in the world with the 
GDP size reaching $465 billion and per capita income $2,824, the premier said 
cent percent people of the country are now enjoying the electricity facility. 
 
Rural people are now availing all civic amenities as the government reached 
digital technology at the doorsteps of rural people, she said, adding, "We 
are giving houses to the homeless people so that no one in the country remain 
homeless".
 
Bangladesh will stand with its head high in the world and be a developed, 
prosperous and modern state by 2041, Sheikh Hasina said, adding, "We will 
build the Sonar Bangladesh as dreamt by father of the nation by realizing the 
dream of the martyrs of June 7".
 
To mark the day, different socio-political organisations including ruling 
Awami League, its associate bodies and like-minded socio-cultural 
organisations have taken elaborate programmes.
 
The Awami League's programmes include hoisting of the national and party 
flags at 6:30am atop Bangabandhu Bhaban at Dhanmondi and central office in 
the capital and all unit offices across the country tomorrow.
 
Leaders and workers of Awami League and its front organisations will place 
floral wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu in front of Bangabandhu Bhaban 
at Dhanmondi around 8am.
 
 
Besides, a discussion will be held at AL central office in the city's 
Bangabandhu Avenue at 4pm. AL President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will 
address the discussion through videoconferencing.
 
 
Former Dhaka University (DU) Vice-Chancellor and Chairman of Bangladesh 
Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Board of Directors Professor Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique 
said actually six-point demand brought Bangladesh's independence.
 
Bangabandhu's foresight and political prudence were so keen that he turned 
the 6-point demand into a one-point demand and called for the independence 
movement of Bengal, he added.