Bangamata’s 93rd Birth Anniv Today

Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, the wife of Bangladesh's first president, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, turns 93 today, and the country will honor her.

Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib was given the name Renu and was born on August 8th, 1930, in the Gopalganj hamlet of Tungipara. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the husband's paternal cousin, was her relation.

In 1938, when Renu was just 8 years old and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was only 18 years old, they got married. 

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman disclosed in his book, "The Unfinished Memoirs," that Renu's mother died when she was just five years old. Her grandfather was the only person remaining. He also departed away when Renu was just seven years old. She had grown up with her siblings at that point.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was betrothed to her when he was only 13 years old. Following the passing of Renu's father, her grandpa phoned Mujib's father and instructed him to marry off one of his granddaughters to your eldest son so that they would inherit all of his possessions. Sheikh Mujib's uncle on his father's side was Renu's grandpa.

He was an adolescent when their marriage was finalized, according to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. I was told that I got married. I had no understanding at the time.

The couple got married in 1938. After Sheikh Mujibur Rahman passed the admission exam in 1942, their family life began. He was accepted the next year to Islamia College in Kolkata. There his political career began.

Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib was killed brutally along with Bangladesh’s founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members at the fateful night of August 15 in 1975.

Until December 17, 1971, Fazilatunnesa Mujib was placed under house arrest during the Bangladesh Liberation War.

She was born in the Gopalganj village of Tungipara to a Bengali Muslim Sheikh family.

Sheikh Husne Ara Begum was her mother, and Sheikh Zahurul Haque was her father.

Her paternal grandfather Kashem Sheikh was the grandson of Sheikh Ekramullah, who was in turn descended from Sheikh Awwal Darwish of Baghdad, a dervish who had traveled to Bengal during the latter Mughal Empire to teach Islam. She was of Iraqi Arab descent on both sides of her family.

When she was three years old, Sheikh Zahurul Haque, her father, and Husne Ara Begum, her mother, both passed away.

Marking the birth anniversary of Sheikh Fazilatunnesa, Awami League and its associate bodies have taken programmes to pay respect to her memory. Wreaths will be placed at her grave in city’s Banani area today.

Last year in an award giving ceremony, prime minister Sheikh Hasina sketched Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib’s key-shadow role in protracted independence struggle particularly in major turning points like the six-point demand, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s release issue and his March 7 speech.

Sheikh Hasina said that Bangladesh’s emergence would have been impossible if Sheikh Fazilatunnesa hadn’t taken a bold step against proposed inclusion of two more points to the Six-Point Demand, while Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was in Pakistani military captivity during the Agartala conspiracy case.

The prime minister said that several Awami League leaders was willing to accept Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s release on parole while the trial of the case was underway, an idea that was strongly opposed by Sheikh Fazilatunnesa who wanted his unconditional release.

Sheikh Hasina said if Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had come out accepting parole conditions, no fierce mass movement would have been sparked forcing the then Pakistani junta to abandon the case, freeing the accused.

Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib feared in that situation all the accused would have been hanged on high treason charges, if not killed in captivity like their co-accused Sergeant Zahirul Haque during the trial.

If Sheikh Mujibur Rahman got released on parole, Bangladesh would have never witnessed its independence, the premier said.

To mark the day, a function began in Gopalganj with a cultural competition on Tuesday.

Gopalganj district administration in collaboration with Zilla Shishu Academy organised a painting competition at 11:00am and quiz competition at 12:00noon were held at the office of Zilla Shishu Academy in the town.

Gopalganj Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Eye Hospital and Training Institute will pay tributes by placing a wreath on the portrait of Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib on behalf of the administration at 10:00am today.

On the occasion of the day, a discussion on the biography of Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib will be held at Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Smriti Auditorium of Gopalganj Zilla Shilpakala Academy at 10:30am.

Later, sewing machines will be distributed to the needy and helpless women.

A special dua will also be offered at Central Court Jame Masjid and other mosques, temples and religious institutions of the district for seeking eternal peace of Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib.