Nat’l Mourning Day today

Today is the National Mourning Day marking the 41st anniversary of assassination of Bangladesh’s founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
On August 15, 1975, Mujib with all but two members of his family were assassinated by a group of disgruntled army officers at his Dhanmondi residence in the early hours of August 15, 1975.
Both the daughters, Sheikh Hasina, now prime minister and Sheikh Rehana, survived as they were abroad.
His wife Fazilatunnesa Mujib, all the three sons, Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russell fell to assassin’s bullets as did daughters-in-law Sultana Kamal and Rosy Jamal, brother Sheikh Naser, nephew and BKSAL secretary Sheikh Fazlul Huq Moni, his wife Arzu Moni, Mujib’s brother-in-law and cabinet minister Abdur Rab Serneabat, his daughter Baby Serneabat, son Arif Serneabat, grandson Sukanta Abdullah Babu and AL leader Amir Hossain Amu’s cousin Abdul Nayeem Khan Rintu.
Mujib became the president of the Republic only months earlier.
His immediate past military secretary Colonel Jamiluddin Ahmed was rushing to the president’s residence and was killed by the military officers as he reached near the Sobhanbagh Mosque, at a stone’s throw from Mujib’s house.
Colonel Jamil had just been appointed as the chief of the Directorate of Forces’ Intelligence and was himself driving to Mujib’s house after receiving an emergency call from the president.
Jamil refused to go back to save his own life despite warnings from the military officers blocking the way.
The government, ruling Awami League have taken elaborate programmes to observe the day as did a host of socio cultural organizations.
AL and its front organisations took month-long mourning programmes from August 1.
The national flag will be flown at half-mast atop government and private buildings educational institutions and Bangladesh missions abroad.
At daybreak, AL would fly national and party flags at half-mast with black flags at Bangabandhu Bhaban and party offices across the country.
At 6.30 AM president Abdul Hamid and prime minster Sheikh Hasina would lay wreaths at Mujib’s portrait at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi 32.
AL leaders and activists would throng the Bangabandhu Museum in silent processions from different areas in the capital to pay homage to the leader who inspired the nation to clinch independence.
Sheikh Hasina who is also AL president accompanied by senior party leaders would also lay wreaths on the graves of the slain members of her family and the others at Banani Graveyard in the capital at 7.30 AM.
They would offer prayers for the eternal peace of all.
Later, Hasina accompanied by cabinet colleagues and senior party leaders would fly to Tungipara, Gopalganj, to lay wreaths on Mujib’s grave at 10AM.
They would offer prayers for the eternal peace of the undisputed leader of the nation.
Honour guards would be presented by a detachment to be drawn from the three services.
Special prayers will be offered at mosques across the country after the Zohr prayer.
Special prayers would also be offered at temples, churches and other places of worship across the country.
Bangladesh Mahila Awami League will host special prayers at Bangabandhu Bhaban after the Asr prayer.
In separate messages, president Abdul Hamid and prime minister Sheikh Hasina paid homage to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
AL’s associate bodies and different cultural and social organisations, educational institutions including all public universities have also taken programmes to observe the day through discussions, painting exhibitions, book fairs and special prayers.
State-run Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television as well as private TV and radio networks would broadcast special programmes featuring Mujib’s struggles and achievements to mark the day.
The print media will bring out special supplements on the day.
District and upazila administrations will observe the day by holding discussions, prayer sessions and other programmes.
AL general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam requested party men to observe the day with due solemnity.
On August 8, 1996, the then AL government declared August 15 as the National Mourning Day and a public holiday.
Death sentences of five military officers for killing Mujib had been executed while six condemned convicts are on the run and Aziz Pasha died as an absconder.
On January 27, 2010, Syed Faruk Rahman, Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan, Muhiuddin Ahmed, Bazlul Huda and AKM Mohiuddin Ahmed were hanged.
The absconding condemned convicts include Khandaker Abdur Rashid, Shariful Haq Dalim, MA Rashed Chowdhury, SHMB Noor Chowdhury, Abdul Mazed and Moslem Uddin.
To mark the National Mourning Day, AL would host a discussion at the auditorium of Krishibid Institute in the capital at 4 PM Tuesday to be chaired by Sheikh Hasina.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net