The nation is set to observe the National Mourning Day on Thursday – the 38th martyrdom anniversary of father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
On this fateful night of August 15 in 1975, Bangabandhu and most of his family members were brutally assassinated by a group of derailed army officers at his (Bangabandhu) Dhanmondi Road-32 residence in the capital.
The 18 members of Bangabandhu’s family and his close ones who were killed on August 15 are; his wife Bangamata Fazilatunnessa Mujib, brother Sheikh Naser, brother-in-law Abdur Rab Serniabat, sons Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and 10-year-old Sheikh Russell, daughters-in-law Sultana Kamal and Rosy Jamal, nephew Sheikh Fazlul Huq Moni, his pregnant wife Arzoo Moni and Bangabandhu’s military secretary Bir Uttam Colonel Jamil (later promoted as Brigadier General posthumously).
However, both the daughters of Bangabandhu, Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana, escaped the carnage as they were abroad.
Since the mayhem, Awami League, its associate bodies and other likeminded pro-liberation, democratic and progressive political parties, social, cultural and professional organisations have been observing the day as the National Mourning Day. President Md Abdul Hamid in his message on the occasion of the national Mourning Day said though the conspirators killed Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, they could not wipe out his ideals and belief.
“I am confident that the name of Bangabandhu will remain ever-imprinted in the mind of crores of Bangalee so long the existence of the country and its people will remain alive,” he said on the eve of the 38th martyrdom anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Paying profound respect to the architect of sovereign Bangladesh, Bangabandhu, and to the memory of his family members who embraced martyrdom on this day, Abdul Hamid described the event as a shameful chapter in the history of Bangalee nation. “The contributions of Bangabandhu in our national history are paramount,”
he said adding that the Bangalee nation, who had struggled for long, achieved their much desired independence under his able and courageous leadership. In a message on the eve of the National Mourning Day, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, “Though the killers assassinated Bangabandhu on August 15 in 1975, his dreams and ideologies could not be erased off as Bangabandhu’s immense sacrifices and dedication and ideologies throughout his long struggling life had been registered in the hearts of the Bangalee nation.” The Prime Minister said, “It is our utmost responsibility to materialise his dream by building a happy and prosperous country. If we do so the soul of Bangabandhu would remain in peace and we will be able to pay our deepest homage to him.” The day is a public holiday.
In commemoration of Bangabandhu’s martyrdom, the ruling Awami League has chalked out a two-day programme. The programmes include placing of wreaths at his portrait at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi in the city at 6-30 am and at his Mausoleum Complex at Tungipara in Gopalganj district at 10 in the morning.
Munajat will be offered and milad and doa mahfils will be organised at both the places.
On behalf of the state President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will lay wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at 6-30 in the morning.
On behalf of the ruling party, Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will place wreaths at the Mausoleum of Bangabandhu at Tungipara in Gopalganj district at 10 am and a smartly turned out squad of the armed forces will present guard of honour to the slain first president of the republic. Wreaths will be laid and fateha will be offered at the graves of the martyrs of August 15 massacre at Banani graveyard at 7.30 am.
A team of central leaders of Awami League will attend the milad and doa mahfil at the Mausoleum of Bangabandhu at Tungipara in Gopalganj district at 11 am.
Mahila Awami League will organise a milad and doa mahfil at Bangabandhu Bhaban in the city at 11-30 am.
Besides, Awami League will organise a discussion meeting at the city’s Bangabandhu International Conference Centre at 3-30 pm on August 16 (Friday). Awami League president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will attend the discussion as the chief guest while party’s senior presidium member and Deputy Leader of the House Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury will chair.
Other programmes of the day include holding of discussions, poetry recitation session, child-juvenile painting competition, photographic exhibition and hamd and nath competition. Bangladesh missions abroad will also observe the National Mourning Day in a befitting manner.
In a statement today, Awami League general secretary and LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam urged all to observe the 38th anniversary of martyrdom of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to mark the National Mourning Day with due solemnity.
Meanwhile, The Dhaka University (DU) authorities will hand over soon to Bangabandhu Museum the citation which was supposed to be presented to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at a convocation of DU on August 15, 1975, the fateful day when he along with his family members were brutally killed.
-With The Independent input
