Bangladesh observes National Mourning Day

The government, Awami League (AL) and its front and associate bodies; and different socio-cultural, political and professional organisations organised elaborate programmes, highlighting the darkest part in national history and mourning Bangbandhu's death along with most of his family members.

On this day in 1975, Bangabandhu, his spouse Sheikh Fazilatun Nesa Mujib, his three sons Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russell and others were brutally killed in an orchestrated conspiracy while a group of derailed army personnel staged the carnage to reverse the values of 1971 Liberation War.

Bangabandhu's two daughters- Sheikh Hasina, now prime minister, and Sheikh Rehana - escaped the bloodbath as they were abroad at that time.

The day's programme began with hoisting of the national flag at half-mast and raising of black flags atop public and private buildings, including Bangabandhu Bhaban as a mark of respect to the martyrs of August 15, 1975 carnage.

Wearing black badges, hundreds of people from all walks of life thronged the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum on the historical road number 32 in Dhanmondi residential area since as early as 6 in the morning to pay profound homage to Father of the Nation by placing wreaths at his portrait there.

As part of the state programme on the National Mourning Day, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid the wreaths separately at the portrait of Bangabandhu. After placing the wreaths, the President and the Prime Minister stood in solemn silence there for sometime as a mark of respect to the great leader.

A smartly turned out contingent of Bangladesh Armed Forces gave an honour guard, while bugle played tune of grief and somber. Special Munajat was offered seeking eternal peace of the departed souls.

Bangabandhu's younger daughter Sheikh Rehana and Sheikh Hasina's daughter Saima Wazed Hossain Putul accompanied the Prime Minister in paying homage to Bangabandhu.

Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and Deputy Leader of the Jatiya Sangsad Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, cabinet members, Prime Minister's advisors, parliament members, cabinet secretary, chiefs of the three services, senior leaders of Bangladesh Awami League and 14-Party and senior government officials were present on the occasion.

Flanked by senior party leaders, Sheikh Hasina, also the President of Awami League, placed another wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu.

Later, the Prime Minister visited the historic residence of Bangabandhu on Dhanmondi Road No. 32 which witnessed world's one of the most barbaric carnage on this day in 1975.

Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury placed wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu while President of Supreme Court Bar Association Advocate Yusuf Hossain Humayun placed wreath on behalf of Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha.

The 14-Party Combine, led by Health Minister and AL Presidium Member Mohammad Nasim, Information Minister and JASOD President Hasanul Haque Inu, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister and Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon, Samyabadi Dal President and former minister Dilip Barua also placed wreaths at the portrait of the Father of the Nation.

Later, the Prime Minister went to Banani Graveyard in the city and paid homage to her mother Bangamata Fazilatun Nesa Mujib, Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russell and other martyrs of August 15 by placing wreaths and spreading flower petals on their graves. She also offered Fateha and doa seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of the martyrs of August 15.

Sheikh Rehana, Saima Wazed Hossain Putul, Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam, central leaders of Awami League and mayors of Dhaka north and south city corporations were present.

Like in the capital city, thousands of mourners from all strata also gathered at the mausoleum of Bangabandhu at Tungipara to pay deep homage to Father of the Nation.

The prime minister paid homage to Father of the Nation by placing a wreath at his mazar and stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memory of the architect of the independence. A special contingent drawn from the three services gave a state salute on the occasion, while bugle played the last post. Chiefs of the three services were present at that time.

Accompanied by Sheikh Rehana, the premier then offered munajat at the mazar seeking eternal peace of departed souls of the Father of the Nation, Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib and other martyrs of August 15, 1975 massacre. Saima Wazed Hossain and other family members, cabinet members, party leaders and workers joined a milad and the doa mahfil.

Different ministries, divisions, institutions, foreign diplomats and socio-cultural-professional bodies also placed wreaths at Bangabandhu's portrait in front of Bangabandhu Museum. Bangladesh missions in different countries observed the day with due fervor amid different programmes.

The national dailies published special supplements while Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television and other private television channels and radio stations aired special programmes highlighting the life of Bangabandhu, his affection and care for his people and immense contribution to the nation.

Special prayers were offered at all the places of worships seeking divine blessings for eternal peace of the souls of the martyrs of August 15 carnage while different organisation organised blood donations camps and distributions of foods among the destitute at different places across the country.

Black banners and posters were hung at different places across the capital and the country. The historic speeches of Bangabandhu and patriotic songs were played through loudspeakers at different places.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave separate messages on the eve of the National Mourning Day. In his message, the president called for building the country a happy and prosperous one by completing the unfinished task of Bangabandhu.

In her message, the prime minister urged all to engage themselves to the task of materializing Bangabandhu's dream of building a hunger, illiteracy and poverty-free and non-communal Bangladesh perceiving the sacrifice and endeavors of Bangabandhu.

The day is a public holiday, but the capital city and other major cities and towns were busy when people came out of their homes to pay homage to their greatest leader by participating in different programmes, organised in befitting manners of the day.