Dhaka, Aug 14 – National Mourning Day will be observed on Saturday, marking the 45th anniversary of the martyrdom of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members were brutally killed by some disgruntled army men on the fateful night of August 15, 1975, and this carnage is considered as the ugliest chapter of the nation’s history. The self-confessed killers of August 15 did not assassinate Bangabandhu alone, but also 16 other members of his family, friends and relatives.
The martyrs included Bangabandhu’s wife Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib, his sons Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russell, daughters-in-law Sultana Kamal and Rosy Jamal, brother Sheikh Naser, brother-in-law Abdur Rab Serniabat, nephew and eminent journalist Sheikh Fazlul Huq Moni, his pregnant wife Arzoo Moni and Colonel Jamil.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the eldest daughter of Bangabandhu, escaped the planned assassination with her sister Sheikh Rehana as they were staying overseas then.
The killing of Bangabandhu, the greatest son of the soil in a thousand years, descended a pall of gloom and spread a sense of deep sadness among the people in the country.
The world protested and condemned the killing, saying it is an irreparable loss to millions of people of Bangladesh.
As in previous years, the government, Awami League and different political and socio-cultural organisations, educational institutions and professional groups have taken up elaborate programmes to pay respect to the greatest son of the soil. This year all programmes will be held by maintaining the social distancing in because of the global pandemic coronavirus (COVID-19).
The nation started observing the month of mourning from August 1, recalling the brutal killing in its history and renewing the pledge to safeguard perpetually the country’s independence and sovereignty.
As part of the programme, the national flag will be hoisted half-mast atop the buildings of all government, semi-government, autonomous, educational institutions and private offices on the day.
Wreaths will be placed at the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in the city and a munajat will be offered there at 6.30 am on August 15.
Wreaths will also be placed at the graves of Bangabandhu’s martyred family members and other martyrs of August 15, 1975, at Banani Graveyard in the city where fateha and munajat will be offered at 7.30 am.
Wreaths will too be laid at the Mazar of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Tungipara in Gopalganj district around 10 am. Fateha and a special doa will be offered there maintaining social distancing.
To mark the National Mourning Day, special munajat will be offered at all mosques across the country after Johr prayers while special prayers will take place at all temples, churches, pagodas and other places of worship at convenient time.
Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television will air special programmes in observance of the National Mourning Day. National newspapers and magazines will publish special supplements on the occasion.
Besides, specially designed posters on Bangabandhu will be distributed while a documentary on him will be screened on the occasion.
The specially designed posters on National Mourning Day will be displayed at important public places, including at educational institutions or growth centres, reminding the black chapter of the country’s history.
The posters and other programmes marking the day will be publicized through LED display boards at different public places.
Posts and Telecommunication Division will send SMS by Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to all mobile users describing the significance of the National Mourning Day.
According to the inter-ministerial meeting, Bangabandhu Memorial Museum can organize lectures on the biography of Bangabandhu and National Mourning Day using virtual platforms on request from educational institutions, Shishu Academy and such institutions.
District and Upazila administrations have drawn up their respective programmes, including discussions and doa mahfils, marking the National Mourning Day maintaining the social distancing.
District councils and municipalities will join the programmes to be organized by the district and Upazila administrations while city corporations, municipalities and union parishads will also take programmes coinciding with the national programmes, maintaining social distancing, to observe the National Mourning Day with due respect at their respective institutions. Use of virtual platforms should get priority in holding Mourning Day programmes.
Bangladesh missions abroad will also hoist the national flag half-mast and organize discussions marking the day.
The ruling AL has drawn up an elaborate programme centrally to observe the National Mourning Day tomorrow to pay glowing tributes to Bangabandhu and other martyrs of August 15 massacre and take a pledge to work for nation-building following the ideology of the father of the nation.
Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Thursday called upon the party leaders and workers to observe the programmes in a befitting manner maintaining the health guidelines.
As part of the party programmes, at dawn, the national flag and party flag will be kept at half-mast and black flags will be hoisted at the Bangabandhu Bhaban, Awami League (AL) headquarters in the capital city and all other offices of the party across the country.
Tributes will be paid to Bangabandhu by placing wreaths at his portrait on Bangabandhu Memorial Museum premises on the city’s Dhanmondi road number 32 at 8 am on the day while Dhaka city units of AL and its associate bodies will pay homage to Bangabandhu through mourning processions.
Besides, homage will be paid to Bangabandhu by placing wreaths at his mausoleum at Tungipara in Gopalganj and offering of fateha, munajat and doa mahfil will also be held there at 10 am. – Agency
