Shaheed Asad Day will be observed in the country on Friday, commemorating the great sacrifice of student leader Asaduzzaman Asad during the mass upsurge of 1969 that led to Bangladesh’s independence. The nation is set to recall Asad's supreme sacrifice with deep gratitude though various programmes, marking the 54th anniversary of his martyrdom. On this day in 1969, Asaduzzaman Asad was killed in firing by Pakistani forces before Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) while protesting against their repressive acts on the then East Pakistan people. Read more: Why hasn’t the UN recognised 1971 Bangladesh Genocide yet? 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. Meanwhile, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on the occasion paying homage to the memory of Asaduzzaman Asad. They also prayed for the eternal peace of Asad's departed soul.