The National Mourning Day, commemorating the 38th death anniversary of the country’s founding president and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was observed across the country yesterday.
It was done so in a befitting manner with a fresh vow to bring back the six fugitive convicted killers of Bangabandhu and to carry out the verdict of a death penalty.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid homage to the father of the nation at Bangabandhu Bhaban on Dhanmondi Road 32 at 6:30am by placing wreaths followed by standing in solemn silence in front of Bangabandhu’s portrait.
Soon after, a smartly turned out contingent of Bangladesh Armed Forces gave a state salute followed by the last post played on the bugle.
Next to the president and the premier, Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury, Deputy Leader of Jatiya Sangsad Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury; cabinet members, PM’s advisers, lawmakers, cabinet secretary, chiefs of three services, senior leaders of Awami League and 14-party combined and senior govern-ment officials were also present on the occasion.
Thousands of mourners from all strata thronged the Bangabandhu Bhaban to place wreaths at the portrait, wearing black badges and carrying banners and placards inscribed “Bring back home the fugitive self-confessed killers of Bangabandhu” and “Execute capital punishment for them”.
Later, the prime minister visited the Banani graveyard in the city and paid homage to her mother Bangamata Fazilatunnesa Mujib, her brothers Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russell and the other martyrs of August 15.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also visited Bangabandhu’s mazar at Tungipa-ra and placed wreaths there.
A special prayer was offered seeking the eternal peace of Bangabandhu, his slain wife Fazilatunnesa Mujib and the departed souls of all the victims of August 15, 1975.
Prayers were offered seeking the country’s continued peace and prosperity.
After placing the wreath at the mazar, President Abdul Hamid signed the Visitor’s Book there.
In the fateful night of August 15 in 1975, some disgruntled and overambitious army officers assassinat-ed Bangabandhu and most of his family members on his Dhanmondi Road-32 residence in a military putsch.
Bangabandhu’s two daughters Sheikh Hasina, the incumbent prime minister and her younger sister Sheikh Rehana, were able to avoid the carnage as they were abroad.
The day’s programmes began with keeping the national flags at half-mast and hoisting black flags, plac-ing wreaths at the portraits of Bangabandhu and four national leaders, offering special prayers and bringing out mourning processions.
The day, a public holiday, had the national dailies publishing special supplements while Bangladesh Be-tar and Bangladesh Television and other private television channels and radio centres aired special programmes highlighting the simple and self-less life of Bangabandhu, his affection and care for the people of Bangladesh and unmatched contributions for the nation.
Special prayers were offered at all places of worship seeking the divine blessings and eternal peace for the souls of the martyrs of the August 15 carnage while blood donation camps and distribution of food among the poor were the other programmes of the day.
Bangladesh missions abroad also observed the National Mourning Day in a befitting manner yesterday.
From early morning, the historic independence speech of Bangabandhu on 7th March, 1971, and the immortal songs of the Liberation War were played through the loudspeakers by different ward units of Awami League and its associate bodies.
