The National Mourning Day was observed today across the country, marking the 44th martyrdom anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family members, and with a fresh vow to bring back the fugitive killers home aiming to implement the verdict of the Bangabandhu killing case.
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 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, descended 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 taking elaborate programmes to pay the utmost 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 programme, the national flag was hoisted half-mast atop the offices of all government, semi-government and autonomous bodies and educational institutions today.
In the morning, President M Abdul Hamid and 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 the Bangabandhu. A special munajat and fateha were also offered there.
Later in the morning, Sheikh Hasina 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 the president and the prime minister and other dignitaries, people from all walks of life wearing black badges thronged the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum to pay their profound respect to Father of the Nation by placing wreaths at his portrait there.
In the morning, the prime minister also placed a wreath at the mazar of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Tungipara in Gopalganj. Later, Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury placed a wreath at the mazar of Bangabandhu there.
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Fateha was offered and the armed forces again staged a guard of honour there. A special milad mahfil and dua were held.
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 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 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.
A delegation of the Awami League central executive committee, including AL Presidium Members Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Kazi Zafar Ullah and Muhammad Faruk Khan, executive member Abul Hasnat Abdullah, joint general secretaries Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Abdur Rahman, agriculture and cooperative secretary Faridunnahar Laily and information and research secretary Advocate Afzal Hossain, among others, joined the programmes taken in Tungipara marking the Day.
The programmes included placing of wreaths at the shrine of Bangabandhu and offering fateha there.
The ruling party leaders distributed foods among the poor, distressed and orphans at AL Bangabandhu Avenue Central Office in the afternoon.
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.
Officials of different department and agencies under the Information Ministry, led by Information Secretary Abdul Malek, placed a wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu at Dhanmondi. Besides, journalists and employees of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) placed a wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu here.
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.
Marking the Day, a discussion will be held at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the capital at 4 pm tomorrow with AL President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
(BSS)
