Fazilatunnesa, wife of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and mother of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was born at Tungipara village of Gopalganj district on August 8 in 1930.
Begum Fazilatunnesa, who had played a pivotal role in nation building activities and struggled for an independent Bangladesh staying beside Bangabandhu, embraced martyrdom along with Bangabandhu and other family members in a brutal predawn attack by some disgruntled army personnel on August 15 in 1975.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday issued separate messages marking the 90th birth anniversary of Bangamata, BSS reports.
The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs took elaborate programmes to observe the 90th birth anniversary of Bangamata nationally with the theme “Bangamata is courageous symbol of sacrifice and beauty”.
The ministry organized a discussion marking the anniversary at Shishu Academy. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addressed the discussion as the chief guest through virtual media from her official Ganabhaban residence in the city.
Awami League (AL) Presidium member Begum Matia Chowdhury presented a keynote paper in the discussion with State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Fazilatun Nessa Indira in the chair. A documentary on life and works of Bangamata was screened in the discussion.
To mark the day, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina through videoconferencing distributed 100 laptops among poor meritorious students in Goplaganj district and 3,200 sewing machines and Taka 26 lakh — Taka 2,000 each — using Nagad mobile banking among 1,300 distressed women across the country.
Earlier, the day-long programme began in the morning through placing of wreaths at Bangamata Fazilatunnesa Mujib’s grave by Awami League (AL) general secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader and other leaders.
AL Presidium Members Begum Matia Chowdhury, Advocate Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Abdur Rahman, Information Minister and AL Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud, Joint General Secretaries Mahbubul Alam Hanif and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Publicity and Publications Secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap and Science and Technology Affairs Secretary Abdus Sabur were present, among others, on the occasion.
Leaders and workers of different organizations including AL and its associate bodies also offered Quran Khwani, milad and doa mahfils near the grave seeking divine blessings and eternal peace of the departed soul of Bangamata.
Later, Dhaka City north and south units of AL, Awami Jubo League, Bangladesh Chhatra League, Awami Swechchhasebak League, Jubo Mahila League, Krishak League, Mahila Awami League, Jatiya Sramik League, Tanti League, Dhaka city north and south units of Jubo League, Dhaka city north and south units of Awami Swechchhasebak League, Bangamata Parishad, Bangabandhu Parishad, Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote and other organizations paid tributes to Bangamata by placing wreaths at her grave.
Besides, Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh also paid homage to Bangamata by placing wreath at her grave.
AL Relief and Social Welfare Sub Committee distributed COVID-19 protective equipment at the party’s central office in the city’s Bangabandhu Avenue marking the birth anniversary of Bangamata. AL general secretary Obaidul Quader addressed the programme through videoconferencing as the chief guest.
At the same time, medical and protective materials were given to different district hospitals, upazila health complexes, eight COVID-19 hospitals and 500 front fighters (doctors) against coronavirus.
AL Presidium members Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Abdur Rahman, Joint General Secretaries Mahbubul Alam Hanif and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Organizing Secretaries Ahmed Hossain, BM Mozammel Haque and Mirza Azam, Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, Science and Technology Affairs Secretary Abdus Sabur and Health Affairs Secretary Dr Rokeya Sultana addressed the programme, among others, with AL Central Working Committee member Mostofa Jalal Mohiuddin in the chair.
Besides, Krishak League organized a discussion and doa mahfil at AL central office in the city Bangabandhu Avenue, marking the 90th birth anniversary of Bangamata while AL Joint General Secretary and Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud addressed the function as the chief guest.
AL Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi addressed the discussion as the special guest with Krishak League President Samir Chanda in the chair. Krishak League General Secretary Umme Kulsum Smrity conducted the programme.
Dhaka city south unit of Awami Jubo League organized Quran Khwani, doa and milad mahfil at AL central office in the city’s Bangabandhu Avenue and distributed foods among the destitute people marking the 90th birth anniversary of Bangamata.
Jubo League General Secretary Md Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil addressed the function as the chief guest.
