The nation today observed the National Mourning Day and 46th martyrdom anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman amid different programmes with due respect, local media reported.
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members were brutally killed by some disgruntled army men on the fateful night of Aug 15, 1975 and this carnage is touted as the ugliest chapter of the nation's history. Sheikh Hasina, the eldest daughter of Bangabandhu, escaped the planned assassination with her sister Sheikh Rehana as they were staying overseas then.
The government took elaborate programmes to observe the day with due respect and solemnity, maintaining health guidelines. As part of the programme, the national flag was hoisted half-mast at the buildings of all government, semi-government, autonomous, educational institutions and private offices.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid rich tribute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, marking the National Mourning Day and the 46th anniversary of his martyrdom. As part of the state program, the PM paid homage to the architect of the country's independence by placing wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi Road No 32 in the capital in the morning. After placing wreath, the premier stood in solemn silence for some time showing profound respect to the great leader. A smartly turned out contingent of Bangladesh Armed Forces gave a state salute at that time, while the bugle played a tune of grief and somber to the last post.
A munajat was also offered seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of the Aug 15 carnage.
Later, the PM visited the historic residence of Father of the Nation at Dhanmondi Road No. 32 which witnessed the world's most barbaric carnage on this day 46 years back.
Sheikh Hasina stayed in the house, which has now been turned into Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, for a while.
From Dhanmondi, the premier later went to Banani Graveyard where her mother Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib, brothers Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal, and Sheikh Russel and other martyrs of Aug 15 were laid to eternal rest. The PM placed wreaths and spread flower petals on their graves. She also offered Fateha and prayed for eternal peace of the departed souls of the martyrs of Aug 15.
Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader along with senior party leaders paid glowing tributes to Bangabandhu by placing wreaths at his portrait after the premier left the premises of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum.
Awami League Presidium Members Begum Matia Chowdhury, Dr Abdur Razzaque, Shajahan Khan, Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Abdur Rahman, Joint General Secretary and Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, Joint General Secretaries Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Dr Dipu Moni and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Organizing Secretaries Ahmed Hossain, Abu Saeed Al Mahmud Swapan, Mirza Azam, SM Kamal Hossain and Advocate Afjal Hossain, Liberation Affairs Secretary Mrinal Kanti Das, Cultural Affairs Secretary Ashim Kumar Ukil, Publicity Secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap, Science and Technology Affairs Secretary Engineer Abdus Sabur, Forest and Environment Secretary Delwar Hossain and Office Secretary Biplab Barua, among others, were present.
Dhaka city north and south units of Awami League, Krishak League, Mohila Awami League, Jubo League, Jatiya Sramik League, Jubo Mahila League, Swechchhasebak League, Bangladesh Chhatra League, Tanti League, Bangabandhu Awami Ainjibi Parishad, Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad, Dhaka University, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Jagannath University, University Grants Commission, National University, Open University, Mohammad Nasim Foundation, Sammilita Sangskritik Jote, Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, Sector Commanders Forum, Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Parishad, Bangla Academy, National Museum, Bangladesh Betar, Bangabandhu Parishad, Bangabandhu Sangskiritk Jote, Sheikh Russel Shishu Sangsad, Amra Muktijoddhar Santan, different political, social and cultural organizations as well as the people from all strata paid homage to Bangabandhu by placing wreaths at his portrait.
Dhaka North and South City Corporation, different ministries, state-run banks, governmental and non-government institutions and organizations also placed wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu.
President Md. Abdul Hamid offered Doa at Durbar Hall of the Bangabhaban after Asr prayers marking the National Mourning Day and the 46th martyrdom anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
A special munajat was offered on the occasion seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of Bangabandhu and his family members who embraced martyrdom on the fateful August 15 in 1975.
Besides, Doa was also offered seeking overall development and progress of the country and the nation at the tough time of Covid-19 pandemic.
The President's family members, secretaries concerned to the Presidential palace, civil and military officials and employees attended the Milad-Mehfil and Doa-Munajat. Bangabhaban Jame Masjid Pesh Imam Maulana Muhammad Saiful Kabir conducted the Munajat.
Besides, different political, social and cultural organizations also paid homage to Bangabandhu by placing wreaths at his mausoleum at Tungipara in Gopalganj. On behalf of PM Sheikh Hasina, homage was paid to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Tungipara in Gopalganj. On behalf of the premier, her Military Secretary Major General Naqib Ahmed Chowdhury paid tributes to Bangabandhu by placing a wreath at his shrine there. On this occasion, a smartly-turned-out contingent drawn from three services gave a guard of honor.
PM's military secretary offered fateha and joined a special Munajat seeking eternal peace of Bangabandhu and other martyrs of the Aug 15 carnage. Later, the Awami League leaders, led by the party's Presidium Member Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Muhammad Faruk Khan, paid homage to Bangabandhu on behalf of the central Awami League.
Awami League Central Working Committee Member Abul Hasnat Abdullah, MP, Foreign Minister Dr A K Abdul Momen, Presidium Members Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Shahjahan Khan, MP, Joint General Secretaries Mahbubul-Alam Hanif and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Organizing Secretaries Abu Sayeed Al Mahmud Swapan, MP, SM Kamal Hossain, Mirza Azam, MP, and Advocate Afjal Hossain, Deputy Office Secretary Sayem Khan, Central Working Committee Members Advocate Md Amirul Alam Milon, MP, Advocate Riazul Kabir Kawser, Anisur Rahman, Sahabuddin Faraji, Iqbal Hossain Apu, MP, Azizus Samad Azad Don and Sayed Abdul Awal Shamim were present.
On behalf of the district administration, police administration, district Awami League and its allied organizations, rich tributes were paid to Bangabandhu at the altar of Bangabandhu Mausoleum. Later, the Bangabandhu Samadhi Soudha Complex was opened so that all people could pay rich tributes to Bangabandhu by maintaining social distancing. Milad and Doa Mehfil were also held at the Samadhi Soudha Complex Mosque marking the 46th martyrdom anniversary of Bangabandhu and the National Mourning Day.
Marking the day, national and party flags were kept at half mast and black flags were hoisted at all offices of the AL across the country including Bangabandhu Bhaban and party's central office.
Special Munajat was offered at all mosques across the country after Johr prayers while special prayers were arranged at all temples, churches, pagodas and other places of worship at convenient time.
Jatiyo Press Club, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ), Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) and different other organizations paid homage to Bangabandhu by placing wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu on the premises of Jatiya Press Club. Foods were distributed among poor and distressed people in front of Awami League's Bangabandhu Avenue central office and across the country as well. Free medical services were provided among poor patients at public and private hospitals across the country marking the day.
Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television aired special programmes in observance of the National Mourning day. National newspapers and magazines published special supplements on the occasion.
Poster publication, its distribution and screening of documentary films on Bangabandhu were arranged while necessary measures were taken to put posters of National Mourning Day in important places including educational institutions or growth centers and those were publicized through LED display board at different public places.
Posts and Telecommunication Division sent SMS by Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to all mobile users describing the significance of the National Mourning Day.
Discussions, poetry recitation, composition, painting competition, painting exhibition, hamd-naat and doa-mahfil on National Mourning Day were arranged in all public and private primary schools, higher secondary schools, madrasahs, colleges, medical colleges and other educational institutions including universities.
In line with the national programmes, different ministries and divisions, departments and agencies including the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, the Ministry of Social Welfare, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and Medical Education And Family Welfare Division organized various programmes at their respective institutions, maintaining the social distancing and health guidelines.
In accordance with the national programmes, district and upazila administrations also drew up their respective programmes, including discussions and Doa Mehfils, marking the National Mourning Day maintaining the social distancing.
Bangladesh missions abroad also arranged different programme to observe the day with due respect.
