Shaheed Asad Day is being observed in the country today, commemorating the great sacrifice of student leader Asaduzzaman Asad during the mass upsurge of 1969 that led to Bangladesh’s independence.

The nation is recalling Asad's supreme sacrifice with deep gratitude though various programmes, marking the 54th anniversary of his martyrdom.

A graduate student of History at Dhaka University during that time, Asad was also the DU unit president and Dhaka city unit general secretary of erstwhile East Pakistan Chhatra Union.

Then President Ayub Khan was forced to step down amid a mass revolt fuelled by the incident.

Different socio-political organisations, including Shaheed Asad Parishad, have chalked out elaborate programmes marking the day.