The nation is observing the National Mourning Day today (Saturday) with paying rich tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on his 45th martyrdom anniversary.
The self-confessed killers of August 15 did not assassinate Bangabandhu alone, but also 16 other members of his family, friends and relatives.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the eldest daughter of Bangabandhu, escaped the planned assassination with her sister Sheikh Rehana as they were staying overseas then.
The killing of Bangabandhu, the greatest son of the soil in thousand years, descended a pall of gloom and spread a sense of deep sadness among the people in the country and across the globe.
The nation, however, started observing the month of mourning from August 1, recalling the most brutal killing in its history and renewing the pledge to safeguard perpetually the country’s independence and sovereignty.
Like previous years, the government, Awami League and different political and socio-cultural organisations, educational institutions and professional groups have chalked out elaborate programmes to pay the utmost respect to the greatest son of the soil on the day of his martyrdom.
As part of the state programme, the Prime Minister paid homage to the architect of the independence by placing wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi Road No. 32 in the capital early this morning.
After paying tributes to Bangabandhu, the Premier along with her daughter Saima Wazed Hossain visited the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum which witnessed the world’s most barbaric carnage on this day 45 years ago.
Awami League (AL) General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, AL Presidium member Begum Matia Chowdhury, Dr Abdur Razzaque, Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, AL joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Organizing Secretary Ahmad Hossain, AL science and technology affairs secretary Md Abdus Sabur and AL office secretary Barrister Biplob Barua were present, among others, during the homage.
From Dhanmondi, the Prime Minister later went to Banani Graveyard where her mother Bangamata Fazilatun Nesa Mujib, brothers Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russell and other martyrs of August 15 were laid to eternal rest. She placed floral wreaths and spread flower petals on their graves. She also offered Fateha and doa seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of the martyrs of August 15, 1975.
As part of the programme, the national flags are hoisted half-mast atop the buildings of all government, semi-government, autonomous, educational institutions and private offices today.
After the Prime Minister’s tribute, the place was opened for public to pay their homage to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. People of different classes and professions started paying homage to Bangabandhu from 8:30am.
Among others, Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Information, Ministry of Food, Ministry of Labour, Dhaka University, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University(BSMMU), Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Jagannath University, University Grants Commission, National University, Open University, Bangla Academy, Public Library Department, we are the children of freedom fighters, Various parties and organisations of Gopalganj including district association and Christian association paid rich tributes to Bangabandhu with floral wreaths.
