National Mourning Day today
The nation is currently observing the National Mourning Day and commemorating the 48th martyrdom anniversary of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, with profound respect and solemnity, BSS reports.
Bangabandhu, along with a significant portion of his family, fell victim to a brutal attack by disgruntled army personnel on the ill-fated night of August 15, 1975. This tragic event is considered one of the darkest episodes in the history of the nation.
Among those who lost their lives were not only Bangabandhu and his wife Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatun Nesha Mujib, but also 26 others, encompassing family members and relatives. The list of martyrs includes Bangabandhu's eldest son, Sheikh Kamal, his second son, Sheikh Jamal, as well as his daughters-in-law, Sultana Kamal and Parveen Jamal Rozi. The youngest son, ten-year-old Sheikh Russell, also tragically perished. Additionally, Sheikh Abu Nasser, Bangabandhu's younger brother, and his nephew, Sheikh Fazlul Haque Mani, along with Mani's pregnant wife, Begum Arju Moni, faced the same fate. Bangabandhu's brother-in-law, Abdur Rab Serniabat, and his chief security officer, Colonel Jamil Uddin Ahmad, were also among the victims of that fateful night.
Bangabandhu's two daughters, Sheikh Hasina, who is now the Prime Minister, and Sheikh Rehana, managed to escape the planned assassination as they were residing abroad at the time.
To mark the day, the government has chalked out elaborate programmes
including keeping the national flag half-mast atop all government, semi-
government, autonomous institutions, educational institutions as well as
Bangladesh missions abroad.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will pay homage to Bangabandhu by placing wreaths at his portrait at 6.30am in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi Road No-32 in the capital.
A smartly turned out contingent drawn from Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force will give an honour guard on the occasion.
A munajat will also be offered seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of the martyrs of the 15 August carnage.
Cabinet members, lawmakers, political parties, socio-cultural organizations and government bodies as well as a cross section of people will also pay glowing tributes to Bangabandhu by placing wreaths at his portrait at Dhanmondi Road No-32.
Later the prime minister will also place wreaths at Banani Graveyard on the graves of the family members of Bangabandhu and other martyrs of 15 August.
The premier will also lay wreaths at the mausoleum of Bangabandhu at
Tungipara in Gopalganj at 11.45 am. She will also attend a dua-mahfil there.
Later, she will join a milad mahfil at Bangabandhu Bhaban in the capital at
5.30pm.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin will host a special dua and milad mahfil at Durbar Hall of Bangabhaban after Asr prayers.
August 15 is a public holiday in Bangladesh commemorating the massacre of 15 August, 1975.
Marking the day, educational institutions will arrange different competitions, cultural functions and photo-exhibitions.
National dailies will publish special supplements while Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television will broadcast various programmes recalling the brutal assassination of Bangabandhu.
Ruling Awami League (AL) has also drawn up various programmes including keeping national and party flags at half mast and hoisting black flags atop all AL offices across the country including Bangabandhu Bhaban and central office at Bangabandhu Avenue at dawn.
AL leaders and workers will pay glowing tributes to Bangabandhu by placing wreaths at his portrait on the premises of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi road number 32 here at 6.30am.
Tributes will also be paid to other martyrs of 15 August by placing wreaths
at their graves in Banani graveyard at 7.30am. Special prayers will be
offered and milad mahfil will also be held there.
A delegation of AL, Gopalganj district and Tungipara upazila units of the
party will pay homage to Bangabandhu by placing wreaths at his mausoleum at Tungipara in Gopalganj at 11 am.
Doa and milad mahfil will also be arranged at mosques across the country
including Baitul Mukarram National Mosque after Zohr prayers.
Besides, special prayers will be offered at temples, churches and pagodas
across the country to mark the National Mourning Day.
As part of the central programme, special prayers and candlelight vigil will
be held at Mirpur Baptist Church (3/7-A Senpara, Parbata, Mirpur-10) at one-minute past zero hours on 15 August.
Christian community will also arrange special prayers at Holy Rosary Church at Tejgaon here at 9am, Buddhist community at International Buddhist Monastery at Merul Badda here at 10am and Hindu community at Dhakeshwari National Temple at 11.30am.
Foods will be distributed among insolvent, orphans and distressed people all over the country.
Mohila Awami League will host a doa and milad mahil after Asr prayers at
Bangabandhu Bhaban at 32 Dhanmondi.
On 16 August, AL will organize a discussion at Bangabandhu International
Conference Centre (BICC) here at 3.30pm.
Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will chair the
discussion.