On Thursday marks the 49th martyrdom anniversary of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
On this day in 1975, Bangabandhu and most of his family were brutally gunned down by disgruntled members of the army.
The killers not only murdered Bangabandhu in those fateful predawn hours, but also his wife, Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatun Nesha Mujib; his eldest son, Sheikh Kamal; his second son, Sheikh Jamal; his daughters-in-law, Sultana Kamal and Parveen Jamal Rosy; his youngest son, ten-year-old Sheikh Russell; his younger brother, Sheikh Abu Nasser; his nephew, Sheikh Fazlul Haq Moni, along with his pregnant wife, Begum Arju Moni; his brother-in-law, Abdur Rab Serniabat, along with Serniabat’s daughter Baby, son Arif Serniabat, grandson Sukanta Abdullah Babu, and nephew Shaheed Serniabat; and Abdul Naeem Khan Rintu, a cousin of Amir Hossain Amu.
Bangabandhu's chief security officer, Colonel Jamil Uddin Ahmad, and Siddikur Rahman, a Special Branch officer on duty at Bangabandhu’s residence, were also killed.
Bangabandhu’s two daughters, Sheikh Hasina, the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, and Sheikh Rehana, survived as they were in Germany at the time.
This year, August 15 is being marked differently in Bangladesh. The new interim government, led by Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus, canceled the public holiday on August 15, following demands from most political parties after the flight of Awami League President Sheikh Hasina on August 5 due to mass uprisings.
In a statement from India, Sheikh Hasina recently urged her party leaders to observe August 15 in a befitting manner, according to her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy.
Awami League leaders are preparing some programs for August 15, but due to the new political situation, it will be challenging for them to organize anything substantial, as many Awami League leaders are now in hiding after the fall of the Awami League regime.
However, grassroots leaders and activists of the Awami League plan to observe August 15 in Tungipara, Dhanmondi 32, Banani graveyard, and other parts of the country.
Meanwhile, yesterday evening, a group of people led by actress Rokeya Prachi went to Dhanmondi 32 and carried out a candlelight procession to remember Bangabandhu and his deceased family members.
At the end of the program, they were attacked by a group that opposes anyone visiting Dhanmondi 32 or commemorating August 15 as a day of mourning.
Speaking to the Dhaka Tribune, Rokeya Prachi said: “What was my fault? We organized a peaceful program to remember the Father of the Nation in front of his Dhanmondi house. For this, they brutally attacked me; they tried to kill me, and I was lucky to escape from the mob.”
During a visit to Dhanmondi 32 yesterday, this correspondent witnessed several BNP leaders and activists gathering there in the evening, intent on preventing anyone from entering Dhanmondi 32 to avoid mismanagement.
Speaking to the Dhaka Tribune, Saidur Rahman, General Secretary of Kalabagan Thana BNP, Mesbahuddin Monir, 17 Number Ward BNP General Secretary, and Shovon Ahmed Roman, former joint convener of Kalabagan Thana Jubo Dal, said they were gathering around Dhanmondi 32 because they did not want Awami League leaders and activists to enter the area.
"People are furious with the Awami League now. If their leaders and activists try to gather at Dhanmondi 32, they may face mass protests," said Roman.
