The country will observe National Mourning Day and 48th martyrdom anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman with due respect and solemnity on Tuesday..
August 15 is the darkest day in the history of independent Bangladesh as the architect of the country’s independence and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members were brutally gunned down by some disgruntled army men on this day in 1975.
The killers not only murdered Bangabandhu in those fateful predawn hours, but also his wife Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatun Nesha Mujib, eldest son Sheikh Kamal, second son Sheikh Jamal, daughters-in-law Sultana Kamal and Parveen Jamal Rosy, youngest son ten-year-old Sheikh Russell, younger brother Sheikh Abu Nasser, nephew Sheikh Fazlul Haq Moni along with his pregnant wife Begum Arju Moni, Bangabandhu's brother-in-law Abdur Rab Serniabat and his daughter Baby, son Arif Serniabat, grandson Sukanta Abdullah Babu, son of Serniabat’s elder brother Shaheed Serniabat, and Amir Hossain Amu's cousin Abdul Naeem Khan Rintu.
Bangabandhu's chief security officer Colonel Jamil Uddin Ahmad and Siddikur Rahman, a Special Branch officer who was on duty at Bangabandhu’s residence, were also killed at the time.
Bangabandhu’s two daughters, Sheikh Hasina, currently Bangladesh’s prime minister, and Sheikh Rehana, survived as they were in Germany at the time.
To mark the day, the government and various social, political and cultural organizations have chalked out elaborate programs.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will pay homage to Bangabandhu by placing wreaths at his portrait in front of the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi Road No-32 in the capital at 6:30am.
The prime minister will also place wreaths on the graves of the family members of Bangabandhu and other martyrs at Banani Graveyard and will offer Fateha and prayers seeking eternal peace for their departed souls.
Later, the prime minister will visit Tungipara to pay tribute at the mausoleum of Bangabandhu in Gopalganj and will attend a Milad at Bangabandhu Bhaban in the afternoon.
The ruling Awami League has announced various programs, including keeping the national and party flags at half mast and hoisting black flags atop all Awami League offices across the country, including Bangabandhu Bhaban and the party central office at Bangabandhu Avenue at dawn.
Ruling party leaders and workers will pay glowing tributes to Bangabandhu and his family by placing wreaths at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi, Banani and Tungipara.
All religious institutions, including mosques, temples, churches and pagodas, across the country will offer special prayers on Tuesday.
Food will be distributed among the insolvent, orphans and distressed people all over the country.
A discussion chaired by Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be arranged at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) on Wednesday afternoon.
