August 15 The Day Nation Lost Its All

As the country honors National Mourning Day and the 48th anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's passing, Tuesday will be a day of respect and solemnity.

Inhumanely murdered by a gang of furious army officers on the terrible night of August 15, 1975, were Bangabandhu and the majority of his family. The country considers this slaughter to be the most heinous event in its history.

According to the AL website, 26 other persons, including their family members and relations, were also slain on that day in addition to Bangabandhu and his wife Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatun Nesha Mujib.

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.

An honor guard will be provided on the occasion by a well-groomed group made up of members of the Bangladesh Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Additionally, a munajat will be made in an effort to bring the martyrs of the August 15 massacre eternal peace for their departed souls.

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 August 15.

At 11.45 a.m., the premier will also lay wreaths at the tomb of Bangabandhu at Tungipara, Gopalganj. Additionally, she'll go to a doa-mahfil there.

Later, at 5.30 p.m., she would attend a milad mahfil at the capital's Bangabandhu Bhaban.  

After Asr prayers, President Mohammed Shahabuddin will hold a special doa and milad mahfil in Bangabhaban's Durbar Hall.

Bangladesh observes a public holiday on August 15 to remember the August 15, 1975, genocide.

Educational institutions will host a variety of contests, cultural events, and picture exhibits to commemorate the day.

Special supplements will be published in national daily, and Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television will air a variety of programs remembering Bangabandhu's horrific death.

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 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 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.

Mohila Awami League will host a doa and milad mahil after Asr prayers at Bangabandhu Bhaban at 32 Dhanmondi.

On August 16, 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.