DHAKA: The National Mourning Day, commemorating the 43rd anniversary of Bangabandhu’s tragic assassination, is being observed across the country on Wednesday (Aug 15).
At around 06:30am, President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina placed wreaths at the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi-32.
Later around 10 in the morning, the prime minister also placed wreath at the mazar of Bangabandhu at Tungipara in Gopalganj. Fateha was offered and the Armed Forces gave a guard of honour there. A special milad mahfil and dua will be held there after Zohr prayers on the day.
Bangabandhu was assassinated in a military putsch on August 15 in 1975, along with most of his family members. The predawn attacks left a total of 24 people killed.
The victims also include Bangabandhu's wife Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib, sons Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and nine-year-old Sheikh Russell, daughters-in-law Sultana Kamal and Parveen Jamal, brother Sheikh Naser, nephew Sheikh Fazlul Huq Moni and his wife Begum Arju Moni, brother-in-law Abdur Rab Serniabat, 13-year-old Baby Serniabat, Serniabat's son Arif and four-year-old grandson Babu, three guests, Bangabandhu's four domestic helps, and his security chief Col Jamil Uddin Ahmed.
Bangabandhu’s two daughters -- Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana -- could escape the bloodbath as they were abroad at the time.
Like previous years, the government, Awami League and different political and socio-cultural organisations, educational institutions and professional groups chalked out elaborate programmes to pay the utmost respect to the greatest son of the soil on the day of his martyrdom.
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.
The government drew elaborate programmes to observe the Day with due respect and solemnity. As part of the programme, the national flag is flying half-mast atop the offices of all government, semi-government and autonomous bodies and educational institutions on the day.
The day is a public holiday.
The president and the prime minister also issued separate messages on the eve of the Day.
Following the president and the prime minister and other dignitaries, people from all walks of life with wearing black badges were marked thronging the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum to pay their profound homage to Father of the Nation.
In line with the national programme, different ministries and departments, directorates and agencies organised various programmes at their respective institutions.
Similarly, all city corporations, district councils, municipalities and union councils have organised different programmes to observe the day with due respect and solemnity.
Bangladesh missions abroad also arranged discussions with hoisting the national flag half-mast atop their respective offices.
Awami League (AL) has kept the national flag and the party flag at half-mast while black flag will be hoisted at the Bangabandhu Bhaban and all other offices of the party across the country.
Apart from the prime minister, leaders, workers and supporters of AL and other associate bodies are set to pay homage to the martyrs of 1975 at the Banani graveyard, offer Fateha and munajat there.
AL will distribute special foods among the poor, destitute and orphanages. The party will hold milad-mahfil and offer doa at Bangabandhu Bhaban after Asr prayers on August 15.
The national dailies have publishd special supplements while Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television and other private television channels and radio stations are airing special programs.
BDST: 1040 HRS, AUG 15, 2018
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