Nation observes National Mourning Day today

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

The nation observes the National Mourning Day today, Wednesday, with due reverence and solemnity, marking the 43rd anniversary of assassination of father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, reports UNB.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman - the architect of the country's independence -- was assassinated along with most of his family members at the crack of dawn on 15 August 1975 by a cabal of army personnel.

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.

The world protested and condemned the killing saying it is an irreparable loss to millions of people of Bangladesh.

His two daughters -- Sheikh Hasina, now the prime minister, and Sheikh Rehana - luckily survived the massacre as they were abroad at that time.

Eighteen members of the family along with Bangabandhu's wife Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, three sons -- captain Sheikh Kamal, lieutenant Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russel --, two daughters-in-law -- Sultana Kamal and Rosy Jamal --, brother Sheikh Naser, peasant leader Abdur Rob Serniabat, youth leader Sheikh Fazlul Haq Moni and his wife Arzu Moni, Baby Serniabat, Sukanta Babu, Arif and Abdul Nayeem Khan Rintu were killed on the fateful night.

Bangabandhu's military secretary colonel Jamil Uddin Ahmad (Bir Uttam), who was later promoted posthumously to the rank of brigadier general, was also killed during the massacre. Some members of a family at Mohammadpur in the capital were killed by artillery shells fired by the killers on the same day.

The day is a public holiday.

The government, different socio-cultural, political and professional organisations including ruling Awami League and its associate bodies have taken various programmes to mark the day.

The nation, however, started observing the month of mourning from 1 August, 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 pay tributes to Bangbandhu at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi Road No. 32 at 6:30am.

Programmes there include a guard of honour by a smartly turned out contingent of the Armed Forces, to the portrait of the Bangabandhu. A special munajat and fateha is scheduled to be offered there.

Premier Sheikh Hasina is expected to place wreaths at the graves of the members of Bangabandhu's family and other martyrs at Banani graveyard.

She is also scheduled to place wreaths at the Bangabandhu Mausoleum in Tungipara of Gopalganj at 10:00am and take part in a milad and doa mahfil there.

Meanwhile, president Abdul Hamid and prime minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages commemorating the National Mourning Day.

In his message, the president said this barbarous occurrence was rare not only in the history of Bangladesh but also in the history of the world.

"The country is now free of disgrace through the trial of the tragic killing of 15 August. The verdict of fugitive killers will soon come into force - this is the expectation of the countrymen on the National Mourning Day," he said urging all to follow the path shown by the Father of the Nation and devote themselves to turn the country into a 'Golden Bangla'.

In her message, the prime minister said, "Under the dynamic, courageous and charismatic leadership of the father of the nation, the people of this territory brought the reddish sun of the independence breaking the shackles of subjugation of thousands of years. The Bangalees got their own nation-state, flag and national anthem."

But Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was killed at a time when he had undertaken an arduous task of building a 'Golden Bangladesh' reconstructing the war-ravaged country and unifying the whole nation, she said.

The killers were able to assassinate Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman but they could not erase his dreams and ideals, the prime minister said urging all to turn the grief of the loss of Bangabandhu into strength, build a non-communal, hunger-illiteracy-free, and happy, prosperous Bangladesh and establish 'Golden Bangladesh' as dreamt by the father of the nation.

On the day, the national flag will be kept half-mast at government, autonomous, semi-autonomous, educational institutions, private buildings and Bangladesh missions in abroad.

A doa will be offered after Zohr prayers in all mosques across the country while special prayers will be arranged in temples, pagodas, churches and other worship places at convenient time across the country.

Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television and private TV channels and radio stations will air special programmes highlighting the life, struggle and achievements of the great leader while newspapers will bring out supplements on the occasion.

Islamic Foundation of Bangladesh and Bangabandhu Gabeshana Parishad will also arrange programmes on the occasion.

Besides, specially designed posters will be displayed at educational institutions and other public places, reminding the black chapter of the country’s history.

Shishu Academy, Bangabandhu Memorial Museum and many other educational institutions will organise discussions on Bangabandhu’s life and works.

The district and upazila administrations will observe 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 will place wreaths at Tungipara and at the portrait of Bangabandhu at Dhanmondi, Road No. 32, and will hold doa mahfils and discussions there.

The different organisations and directorates under the information ministry will also hold different programmes, including exhibition, publish special supplements of Nirikkha, Sachithra Bangladesh and Bangladesh Quarterly.

Bangladesh Television has taken initiatives to read out the Bangabandhu’s books - “Osomapto Atmajibani” and “Karagarer Rojnamcha”.

Awami League (AL) will keep the national flag and the party flag at half-mast while black flag will be hoisted at the Bangabandhu Bhaban and all other offices of the party across the country.

AL and it associate bodies will place wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu at Dhanmondi Road No. 32 in the morning. Leaders, workers and supporters of AL and other organisations will also pay homage to the martyrs of 1975 at the Banani graveyard, offer Fateha and munajat there on 15 August.

AL will distribute special foods among the poor, destitute and orphans. The party will hold milad mahfil and offer doa at Bangabandhu Bhaban after Asr prayers on 15 August, reports BSS.

It will organise a discussion meeting at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) at 4:00pm on 16 August.

A delegation of the Awami League central executive committee will visit the shrine of Bangabandhu in Tungipara on 15 August.

Shishu Academy, Bangabandhu Memorial Museum and many other educational institutions and organisations will organise discussions on Bangabandhu’s life and works.

Bangladesh missions abroad will arrange discussions with hoisting the national flag half-mast atop their respective offices.