Staff- Reporter: Shahid Asaduzzaman Asad was shot down by the police on January 20, 1969 in protest rally against the atrocities of the government of Pakistani dictator Ayub Khan. He was leading the procession of the 11-point program of the students.

Every year 20 January is observed as Shaheed Asad Day.The nation is all set to recall the great sacrifice and observe his 52nd martyrdom anniversary today.

The sacrifice of Asad, took the mass uprising of 1969 to the highest peak. His death hastened the fall of the then military dictator Ayub Khan and brought the end of his decade long iron rule.Asad was a Master's level student of Dhaka and was the general secretary of Dhaka unit of East Pakistan Students Union

Presint Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages paying tributes to the supreme sacrifice of Shaheed Asad on the occasion.. In the message, they said that the outstanding contribution of Shahid Asad is a source of inspiration for the democracy-loving people of the country. Shahid Asad, who sacrificed his life in the mass uprising of 1969 will be remembered by the democracy-loving people of this country. Recalling his sacrifice with due respect, both heads of the state prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul of Shaheed Asad.

The president said, "The sacrifice of Asad in the 1969 mass uprising had spearheaded the aspiration of Bengalis emancipation.After Asad’s killing, Bangladesh emerged as an independent country through the War of Liberation in 1971, at the call of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman."

In her message Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, " January 20 is a significant day in the history of Liberation War of Bangladesh, bacuse student leader Mohammad Asaduzzaman was killed in police firing in front of Dhaka Medical College Hospital." Therefore, the sacrifice of Shaheed Asad has become a bright chapter in the freedom and liberation struggle of the country.

To mark the occasion, different socio-cultural, student and political organisation, political parties, Saheed Asad Parishad have organized various programs.

The Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), the Socialist Party of Bangladesh (BSD) and the Workers Party of Bangladesh will pay their respects at the Asad Memorial adjacent to Dhaka Medical College at 8am on Wednesday. Leaders and activists of the central and Dhaka metropolitan units of these parties will be present in front of the Dhaka Medical College Hospital to pay their respects to Shaheed Asad.