Nation Set to Observe National Mourning Day

The nation will observe tomorrow's National Mourning Day and the 48th anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's martyrdom with the reverence and gravity they merit.

Bangabandhu and the bulk of his family were brutally killed on the horrible night of August 15, 1975, by a group of enraged army officers. This massacre is regarded as the most atrocious incident in the history of the nation.

In addition to Bangabandhu and his wife Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatun Nesha Mujib, 26 other people, including their family members and relations, were also killed on that day, according to the AL website.

Bangabandhu's eldest son Sheikh Kamal, his second son Sheikh Jamal, two daughters-in-law Sultana Kamal and Parveen Jamal Rozi, his youngest son Sheikh Russell, age ten, his younger brother Sheikh Abu Nasser, his nephew Sheikh Fazlul Haque Mani and his expectant wife Begum Arju Moni, as well as his brother-in-law Abdur Rab Serniabat, were among the martyrs. On that fatal night, Colonel Jamil Uddin Ahmad, the head of Bangabandhu's security, also perished.

Sheikh Hasina, the current prime minister, and Sheikh Rehana, the two daughters of the nation's father, managed to escape the intended killing since they were lodging overseas.

The national flag will fly at half-staff atop all government, semi-government, autonomous institutions, educational institutions, and Bangladesh missions overseas as part of the government's extensive programs to observe the day.

At 6.30 a.m., the president and prime minister of Bangladesh, Mohammed Shahabuddin and Sheikh Hasina, will honor Bangabandhu by laying wreaths at his image in front of the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum on Dhanmondi Road No. 32.

Additionally, the prime minister will lay flowers on the graves of Bangabandhu's family members and other martyrs who were ruthlessly murdered on August 15, 1975, at the Banani Graveyard.

She would also recite Fateha and munajat to invoke the martyrs' departed souls to eternal peace.

By laying wreaths before his portrait on Dhanmondi Road No. 32, members of the cabinet, MPs, political parties, socio-cultural groups, and government agencies will also pay heartfelt homage to Bangabandhu.

Wreaths will also be laid at the mausoleum of Bangabandhu at Tungipara in Gopalganj. Fateha and munajat will be offered and discussions will be held there.

Tributes will also be paid to other martyrs of the August 15 carnage by placing wreaths at their graves at Banani graveyard in the capital.

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 August 15 by placing wreaths at their graves in Banani graveyard at 8am. 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 12pm.

Fateha offering, milad and doa mahfil will be arranged there.

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 August 15.

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.

A discussion will be arranged at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) here at 4pm on August 16.

Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will chair the discussion.

Source: BSS