Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has paid tribute to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at his final resting place in Tungipara on his death anniversary.
After arriving in Gopalganj around 11 am on Monday, Hasina placed a wreath on Bangabandhu’s grave and observed a moment of silence as an army contingent gave a guard of honour.
Later, the prime minister offered prayers at her father’s grave. The head of the government then laid another wreath on behalf of the ruling Awami League alongside senior party leaders.
Hasina also attended a special prayer service at the Father of the Nation’s mausoleum.
She is scheduled to return to Dhaka after attending various programmes in Tungipara to mark National Mourning Day.
Earlier, the prime minister paid homage to the Father of the Nation at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum on Dhanmondi’s Road No. 32.
A contingent of the armed forces accorded a state salute to a mournful bugle call as Hasina stood in solemn silence before Bangabandhu’s portrait.
Afterwards, prayers were offered for the salvation of Bangabandhu and the other victims of the carnage on Aug 15, 1975.
On Aug 15, 1975, a group of rogue army officers brutally assassinated Bangabandhu along with most of his family at his Dhanmondi 32 residence.
Neither Bangabandhu’s 10-year-old son Sheikh Russell, nor nephew Sheikh Fazlul Huq Moni’s pregnant wife Arzoo Moni, was spared.
Besides Moni, the other victims included Bangabandhu’s wife Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, brother Sheikh Naser, brother-in-law Abdur Rab Serniabat, sons Sheikh Kamal and Sheikh Jamal, and daughters-in-law Sultana Kamal and Rosy Jamal.
Hasina and her sister Sheikh Rehana survived the massacre as they were in Europe at the time.
Bangabandhu was buried in his hometown Gopalganj’s Tungipara and the others at the Banani graveyard.
Hasina went to Banani to offer her respects to her slain family members at their graves in the morning.
To commemorate the day, the national flag is being flown at half-mast, while special prayer services have been arranged at mosques, temples, churches and pagodas.
Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and other private television stations will broadcast special programmes on the day.
– Input from bdnews24.com was used in this article
