Syed Abul Maksud

Tajuddin Ahmad, the prime minister of the provisional government-in-exile, would have been 96 this year. He was born on July 23, 1925 in Kapashia upazila. His life tragically came to an end on November 3, 1975.

Abul Mansur Ahmad excelled in each of his professions as writer, journalist and politician, and such was his honesty that he worked without pitting one profession against the other.

In the wake of the crackdown on March 25, the Awami League leaders felt bereft and were left to their devices. Senior leaders fled from their houses to take shelter either in remote villages or in India. Among them was the Awami League General Secretary Tajuddin Ahmed. The Indian authorities gave them safety and shelter. On the evening of April 1, Tajuddin and Barrister Amirul Islam were put aboard a Russian-

As a lawyer, he earned a lot, but at the end, he died a pauper. He was never found lacking in helping workers of his party and friends. He was a man of character and great intellect.

Tajuddin Ahmad, the prime minister of the provisional government-in-exile, would have been 90 this year.

The election symbol of the Awami League is a boat; interestingly, AL now resembles a boat as big as Noah's Ark as it accommodates anybody from any party, irrespective of political colour and ideology.

It was late afternoon of 25th March. Professor Govinda Chandra Dev, along with a junior colleague of his from the philosophy department, was crossing the road near TSC of the University of Dhaka to go to Ramna Race Course for his regular stroll.

IN his speech on January 6, 1941, 22nd US President Franklin D. Roosevelt said: “A world founded upon four essential freedoms. The first is freedom of speech and expression … everywhere in the world.

BANGLADESH is now in the grip of a crisis, one whose magnitude and dimension surpasses anything of the kind in the history of the country. Both the ruling party and the opposition are adamant and unbending. Nearly 100 innocent people have been killed in petrol bomb attacks and street violence since the indefinite blockade and hartal was imposed by the BNP. Dozens have died in “crossfire” and “encounter”. Both sides have crossed their limits. But as the saying goes: Climb not too high.