Swechchhasebak League's 28th founding anniv today

The 28th founding anniversary of Bangladesh Awami Swechchhasebak League (BASL), the volunteers' wing of the ruling Bangladesh Awami League (AL), is today, reports BSS.

The BASL was founded on July 27 in 1994 as an AL's associate body as per the directives of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's worthy daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Bangladesh Awami League was formed on 23-24 June in 1949 through a council, which later transformed into the biggest political party of the country to lead struggles of freedom, the War of Liberation and all democratic movements.

Established in 1949 as Awami Muslim League at Rose Garden in the capital's old part on the day, later the party appeared as Bangladesh Awami League (AL) to give it a secular look.

Swechchhasebak Bahini is closely linked with the history of the birth of Awami League.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday issued a message greeting all the leaders and workers, supporters and well-wishers of BASL.

In her message, the premier wished eternal peace of the departed souls of all the leaders and activists who have passed away, including the recently deceased BASL President Nirmal Ranjan Guha.

Swechchhasebak Bahini was formed under the leadership of noted leader Zillur Rahman during the establishment of Awami League at Rose Garden, Tikatuli KM Das Lane, she said.

Following that, Swechchhasebak Bahini consistently played a significant role in maintaining order and rendering services in all meetings and political programmes of the Awami League.

Swechchhasebak Bahini played the bold role in supplying war logistics during the fiery days of the great Liberation War, the six point movement and the Agartala Conspiracy Case led by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

This Bahini had contributed to various political movements and struggles after the Liberation War, the premier said, adding that in that context, the journey of Bangladesh Awami Swechchhasebak League (BASL) began on July 27, 1994 with the formation of a convening committee to reorganize the traditional Swechchhasebak Bahini.

Later, in 2003, after making a full organizational structure, the organization set a unique example of humanity through selfless volunteering amid all disasters and poverty situation of the country, she said.

Especially when the entire world is in danger due to the corona pandemic, the way the leaders and workers of BASL at all levels have worked day and night to create awareness, distribute relief, implement all kinds of humanitarian initiatives from medical assistance to vaccination programmes and burial of dead bodies is highly commendable, she continued.

"I believe BASL will become more dynamic (in coming day) and will make an important contribution to the establishment of the happy-prosperous and advanced-modern 'Sonar Bangladesh' as dreamt by Bangabandhu imbued with the spirit of the great liberation war," Sheikh Hasina said.

The premier wished all the programmes taken on the occasion of the 28th founding anniversary of BASL a success.