Mustafa Mia, 71, hailing from Phulpur in Mymensingh, has decided to visit the grave of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Tungipara upazila of Gopalganj to pay homage to the father of the nation.
An ardent follower of Bangabandhu, Mustafa had refrained from walking on Bangladesh’s soil since his brutal assasination till the announcement of the verdict in the murder trial.
He left for Tungipara on Monday afternoon following the completion of all the formalities including the written certificate from the administration.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Shithesh Chandra Sarkar, Upazila Parishad Chairman Ataul Karim Rasel, Mayor Shashadhar Sen, Upazila Awami League Senior Joint Convenor and Vice Chairman Prof Mohammad Habibur Rahman, Upazila Vice Chairman Anisur Rahman were present at the start of his 313km journey.
Upazila Parishad Woman Vice Chairman Rokeya Parveen Lucky, Phulpur police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abdullah Al Mamun, Upazila Social Service Officer Shihab Uddin Khan, Singheshwar UP Chairman Shaha Ali and senior journalist Humayun Kabir Mukul were present to bid farewell to him after giving an encouraging speech.
The 71-year-old also said that he did not wear shoes on his wedding day too.
Later, when the verdict of Bangabandhu's murder trial was announced, he started wearing shoes again at the request of the senior leaders of the Awami League, including the former five-time MP of Mymensingh-2 (Phulpur-Tarakanda) seat late M Shamsul Haque.
Present Minister of State for Housing and Public Works Sharif Ahmed's father late M Shamsul Haque brought the shoes as a gift for him from Mymensingh.
Expressing his longstanding wish to visit the grave of the Father of the Nation Mustafa added: “It just was not been possible due to various difficulties but now that my sons are all grown up, this time I am leaving to walk toward Tungipara in the month of mourning.”
Upazila Awami League Senior Joint Convenor Prof Habibur Rahman said: "We love Bangabandhu, although many people say this verbally, we can tell who actually appreciates him. In fact, Mustafa Mia showed us how to really show love for Bangabandhu. We have a lot to learn from Mustafa Mia.”
