The historic Six-point Day, marking the demand for autonomy for the then East Pakistan, is being observed today virtually across the country amid the Covid-19 outbreak.

On June 7 in 1966, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had launched a massive movement against the misrule of the Pakistanis on the basis of the 6-point demand.

Eleven people, including Manu Mian, Shafique and Shamsul Haque, were gunned down by the police and paramilitary EPR on that day in Dhaka and Narayanganj during a hartal called for the release of Bangabandhu and other leaders detained over launching the six-point movement against the then barbaric ruling clique.

Bangabandhu had launched his historic six-point political and economic programme in Lahore on February 5 in 1966, aiming at attaining greater autonomy for the East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, in the backdrop of exploitation and discrimination by the then Pakistani rulers.

The six-point demands were: creating provision in the constitution for a Federation of Pakistan in its true sense based on the Lahore resolution; the federal government will deal with only two subjects: defence and foreign affairs; introduction of two separate, but freely convertible currencies for East and West Pakistan; vesting the power of taxation and revenue collection with the federating units; maintaining two separate accounts for the foreign exchange earnings of the two wings; and creation of a separate militia or paramilitary force for East Pakistan.

Marking the day, Awami League has urged all to pray for the eternal peace of the departed souls of all martyrs, including the martyrs of June 7 in 1966 and Liberation War in 1971, maintaining the health guidelines issued to slow down the spread of Covid-19.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Birth Centenary Celebration National Implementation Committee will organise a virtual discussion and an online quiz competition for youths today.Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury, chief coordinator of the committee, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave consent to preside over the discussion.