The 93rd birth anniversary of Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, wife of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, will be observed on Tuesday (Aug 8) in a befitting manner across the country, local media reported.
Bangamata, also known by her nick name Renu, was born on Aug 8 in 1930 at Tungipara village in Gopalganj. She was a paternal cousin of her husband Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Renu was only 8 years old when she was married to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who himself was just 18.
She was born to the Bengali Muslim Sheikh family in the village of Tungipara, Gopalganj. Her father’s name is Sheikh Zahurul Haque and her mother’s name is Sheikh Husne Ara Begum.
Their wedding took place in 1938. Their family life started after Bangabandhu passed the entrance exam in 1942. That year he got admitted to Islamia College, Kolkata. His political career began there.
Bangamata was killed brutally along with Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members at the fateful night of Aug 15 in 1975.
Fazilatunnesa Mujib was under house arrest during Bangladesh Liberation War until Dec 17, 1971.
Marking the birth anniversary of Sheikh Fazilatunnesa, Bangladesh Awami League and its associate bodies have taken programmes to pay respect to her memory. Wreaths will be placed at her grave in city’s Banani area on Tuesday.
Last year in an award giving ceremony, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sketched Bangmata's key-shadow role in protracted independence struggle particularly in major turning points like the six-point demand, Bangabandhu's release issue and his Mar 7 speech.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh's emergence would have been impossible if Bangamata hadn't taken a bold step against proposed inclusion of two more points to the Six-Point Demand while Bangabandhu was in Pakistani military captivity during the Agartala conspiracy case.
The premier said several Awami League leaders was willing to accept Bangabandhu's release on parole while the trial of the case was underway, an idea that was strongly opposed by Bangamata who wanted his unconditional release.
Sheikh Hasina said if Bangabandhu had come out accepting parole conditions, no fierce mass movement would have been sparked forcing the then Pakistani junta to abandon the case, freeing the accused. Bangamata feared in that situation all the accused would have been hanged on high treason charges, if not killed in captivity like their co-accused Sergeant Zahirul Haque during the trial. If Bangabandhu got released on parole, Bangladesh would have never witnessed its independence, the premier said.
