Dr. Milon Day: Fall of Dictatorship

Today is Shaheed Milon Day. Jasad leader Dr. Shamsul Alam Khan Milon was martyred while taking part in the anti-authoritarian movement of the nineties. His sacrifice was a significant milestone in the fall of the dictatorial government. That is why democracy-loving people observe this day as Dr. Milon Day.

During the tumultuous period of the anti-authoritarian mass movement, on 27 November 1990, the terrorist forces mobilized the dictator Ershad to suppress the student-mass movement on the road adjacent to Dhaka University TSC. Dr. Shamsul Alam Khan Milon, leader of the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) and joint secretary-general of the then Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA), was killed in the TSC area of Dhaka University by those forces.

As the news of Dr. Milon's martyrdom spread, the student-mass movement turned into a mass uprising. Ershad made a last-ditch effort to suppress the mass uprising by imposing a military dictatorship curfew. But thousands of students from Dhaka University, BUET, Dhaka Medical College, and other educational institutions broke the curfew on November 28 and marched on the city highway from Dhaka University, breaking the barrier of the Army-BDR-Armed Police. Ershad's rule and control of the military dictatorship were shattered by the students' adventurous procession. The street was taken over by the students and people. In the face of mass uprising, the military ruler Ershad conceded defeat. He announced his resignation on the evening of December 3. According to the outline of the three alliances, the Ershad government was forced to hand over power to the caretaker government.

The mass movement turned into a mass uprising on 18 February 1969, when news broke that Dr. Shamsuzzoha, a professor at Rajshahi University, had been shot dead on the orders of the then West Pakistani captain of the EPR forces. The dictator Ayub Khan fell in the face of that mass uprising. Similarly, on November 27, 1990, Dr. Milon's self-sacrifice turned the mass movement into a mass uprising to overthrow the military dictatorship.

From his school days, Dr. Milon joined the Jasad-backed Chhatra League and student movement against the military ruler Ziaur Rahman. He was the president of the Dhaka Medical College branch of the Jasad-backed Chhatra League and a member of the central committee. Even after entering his professional life, he was actively involved in the politics of Jasad.

Dr. Milon was unrivaled in professional integrity, efficiency, and organizational performance. Dr. Milon was the then elected Joint Secretary of BMA, Treasurer of Dhaka Medical College Teachers Association, and Lecturer in Biochemistry Department of Dhaka College. In parallel with the mass movement against military rule, it has consistently played a leading role in building a movement demanding the formulation of a people-oriented health policy.

Various political parties and socio-cultural organizations have taken massive programs on the occasion of the day. As always, the Awami League has taken various programs with the people of the country to observe the day with due dignity. On this occasion, Awami League will pay homage to Dr. Shamsul Alam Khan Milon at the premises of Dhaka Medical College, recite Fateha, and perform special munajat.