Shaheed Nur Hossain Day today: the sacrifice of the living poster who wore the slogan on his chest and back

Today, Tuesday (10 November), is Shaheed Nur Hossain Day. On this day in 1987, Nur Hossain, a hero of the movement against the then autocrat Ershad, was killed by police bullets. He had taken to the streets as a living poster, carrying the slogan 'Down with autocracy, long live democracy' written on his chest and back.

Born in Narinda, Dhaka, in the home of an auto-rickshaw driver, Nur Hossain studied up to class eight. He later trained as a driver.

At a time when the movement against General Hussain Muhammad Ershad's autocratic rule was at its peak, Nur Hossain was martyred on this day in 1987. He had come out onto the streets with the slogan 'Down with autocracy, long live democracy' written on his chest and back.

As an anti-Ershad procession was crossing the 'Zero Point' area of Paltan, police fired tear gas and bullets to disperse the march. Nur Hossain was martyred then.

His sacrifice stirred people, moving the hearts of democracy-loving people. His body, bearing the slogan on chest and back, became a symbol of the movement.

In the course of that movement, amid bloodshed, the Ershad government fell on 6 December 1990.

After Nur Hossain was martyred in 1987, Ershad dissolved the national parliament on 6 December of the same year. Three months later, he arranged another parliamentary election.

The major parties did not take part in the election held on 3 March 1988. As a result, the parliament did not gain political legitimacy.

Ershad nevertheless remained in power. Eventually, his resignation on 6 December 1990 brought the eventful decade to an end.

On 27 February 1991, all parties took part in the parliamentary election held under the interim government of Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed. The BNP won a single majority and formed the government.

The spot where Nur Hossain was shot is now Shaheed Nur Hossain Chattar. The image of his body with the slogan written on his chest and back is still remembered today as one of the enduring symbols of the movement for democracy.