The National Mourning Day was observed on Saturday across the country, marking the 45th martyrdom anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family members.
The killing of Bangabandhu and most of his family members on the fateful night of August 15, 1975 is the ugliest chapter of the nation’s history.
The self-confessed killers of the August 15 not only assassinated Bangabandhu, but also killed 16 other members of his family, friends and relatives.
They include his wife Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib, sons Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russell, daughters-in-law Sultana Kamal and Rosy Jamal, brother Sheikh Naser, brother-in-law Abdur Rab Serniabat, nephew and eminent journalist Sheikh Fazlul Huq Moni, his pregnant wife Arzoo Moni and Colonel Jamil.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the eldest daughter of Bangabandhu, escaped the planned assassination with her sister Sheikh Rehana as they were staying overseas then.
The killing of Bangabandhu, the greatest son of the soil in thousand years, cast a pall of gloom and spread a sense of deep sadness among the people in the country and across the globe as well.
The world protested and condemned the killing, saying it is an irreparable loss to millions of people of Bangladesh.
The government, Awami League and different political and socio-cultural organisations, educational institutions and professional groups observed the day by observing elaborate programmes to pay respect to the greatest son of the soil on the day of his martyrdom.
The nation, however, started observing the month of mourning from August 1, recalling the most brutal killing in its history and renewing the pledge to safeguard perpetually the country’s independence and sovereignty.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on the eve of the Day.
The government took elaborate programmes to observe the Day with due respect and solemnity. As part of the programmes, the national flag was hoisted at half-mast atop the offices of all government, semi-government and autonomous bodies and educational institutions today.
In the morning, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina placed wreaths at the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi Road No. 32 in the capital.
A smartly turned out contingent of the Armed Forces gave a guard of honour to the portrait of Bangabandhu. A special munajat and fateha were also offered there.
Awami League (AL) General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, AL Presidium members Begum Matia Chowdhury and Dr. Abdur Razzaque, Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, AL Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Organizing Secretary Ahmad Hossain, AL Science and Technology Affairs Secretary Md Abdus Sabur and AL Office Secretary Barrister Biplob Barua were present, among others, during the homage.
In the morning, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina along with her daughter Saima Wazed Hossain placed a wreath and offered fateha at the Banani graveyard for the family members of the Father of the Nation and others, who embraced martyrdom with Bangabandhu on August 15, 1975.
Following that other dignitaries and people from all walks of life wearing black badges thronged to the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum to pay their profound respect to the Father of the Nation by placing wreaths at his portrait there.
Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury paid homage to the architect of the independence by placing wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi here.
Among others, Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Information, Ministry of Food, Ministry of Labour, Dhaka University, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University(BSMMU), Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Jagannath University, University Grants Commission, National University, Open University, Bangla Academy, Public Library Department, we are the children of freedom fighters, various parties and organisations of Gopalganj including district association and Christian association paid rich tributes to Bangabandhu with floral wreaths.
In line with the national programme, different ministries and departments, directorates and agencies arranged various programmes at their respective institutions.
Similarly, all city corporations, district councils, municipalities and union councils organised different programmes to observe the Day with due respect and solemnity.
Bangladesh missions abroad arranged discussions with hoisting the national flag at half-mast atop their respective offices.
Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television, private TV channels and radio stations aired special programmes in observance of the National Mourning Day.
National dailies and local newspapers brought out special supplements on the occasion.
Besides, specially designed posters were displayed at educational institutions and other public places, in remembrance of the black chapter of the country’s history.
Bangladesh Awami League took elaborate programmes to observe the Day. As part of the programmes, the national and party flags were hoisted at half-mast atop all the offices of Awami League and Bangabandhu Bhaban today.
In the morning, the party leaders placed wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu in front of Bangabandhu Museum in the capital.
Later in the day, the party leaders also placed wreaths and offered fateha at the Banani graveyard for the family members of the Father of the Nation and others, who embraced martyrdom with Bangabandhu on August 15, 1975.
Under the programme, the Awami League organized offering Fateha, holding munajat and doa-mahfil and placed wreaths at the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on Bangabandhu Bhaban premises at Dhanmondi at 8:00am and paid respect by placing floral wreaths to the martyrs of the August 15 at Banani graveyard at 8:45am.
All the leaders and activists of the Dhaka City unit of the Awami League and its associate bodies participated in the programme maintaining the proper health guidelines.
Offering Fateha, holding milad, doa-mahfils and paying respect to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman were arranged at Tungipara at 10am.
A delegation of the Awami League along with the leaders and workers of Gopalganj district and Tungipara upazila Awami League participated in the programme.
The AL delegation members were presidium member Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Muhammad Faruque Khan MP, central executive member Abul Hasnat Abdullah MP, presidium members Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Abdur Rahman, Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Organizing Secretaries BM Mozammel Haq, SM Kamal Hossen, Mirza Azam MP and Advocate Afzal Hossen, central executive members Advocate ABM Reazul Kabir Kawsar, Sahabuddin Farazi and Anisur Rahman.
To mark the national mourning day, doa and milad-mahfils were held at all the mosques across the country and special prayers were arranged at the places of worship of other religions.
The ruling party leaders distributed foods among the poor, distressed and orphans at AL Bangabandhu Avenue Central Office yesterday.
Besides, Awami Jubo League, Krishak League and Chattra League arranged separate programmes, marking the Day.
The district and upazila administrations observed the Day through doa mahfil and discussions in line with the national programmes.
Different institutions, socio-cultural organisations and people from all walks of life placed wreaths at Tungipara and the portrait of Bangabandhu at Road no-32, Dhanmondi, and held doa mahfils and discussions.
On the day, special prayers were offered at all mosques across the country seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of Bangabandhu and his deceased family members.
Besides, special prayers were also offered at all temples and places of worships of other religions.
Source: BSS