National Mourning Day observed with due solemnity

The National Mourning Day and the 47th martyrdom anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was observed on Monday across the country and Bangladesh missions abroad with due respect and solemnity.

Bangabandhu and most of his family members were brutally killed by some disgruntled army men on the fateful day of August 15, 1975 and this carnage is touted as the ugliest chapter of the nation's history.

Father of the Nation's two daughters Sheikh Hasina, now Prime Minister, and Sheikh Rehana escaped the planned assassination as they were staying abroad at that time.

The government drew up elaborate programmes in observance of the day at the national level.

The national flag was hoisted half-mast at all government, semi-government, autonomous and educational institutions and private buildings including Bangladesh missions abroad.

As part of the state programme, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid homage to Bangabandhu, the architect of independent Bangladesh, by placing wreaths at his portrait in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi Road No. 32 at 6.30 am in the capital.

After placing the wreath, she stood in solemn silence for some time to show 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 martyrs of August 15 carnage.

After paying tributes to Bangabandhu, the prime minister visited the historic residence of Bangabandhu at Dhanmondi Road No. 32 which witnessed the world's most barbaric carnage on this day 47 years back.

For a while, she stayed in the house now turned into Bangabandhu Memorial Museum.

Later, flanked by senior Awami League (AL) leaders and cabinet members; Sheikh Hasina, also AL President, placed a wreath at Bangabandhu's portrait on behalf of the party.

AL Advisory Council members Amir Hossain Amu and Tofail Ahmed, General Secretary Obaidul Quader, Presidium members Begum Matia Chowdhury, Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Abdur Rahman, Shajahan Khan and AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, Joint General Secretaries- Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Organising Secretaries Ahmad Hossain and Mirza Azam, Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, Publicity and Publications Secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap, Cultural Affairs Secretary Ashim Kumar Ukil, Labour and Manpower Affairs Secretary Habibur Rahman Siraj, among others, were present.

Since the dawn, wearing black badges and carrying banners in their hands, people of all strata including school and college students, leaders and workers of socio-cultural and political organisations thronged the premises of the historic Bangabandhu Bhaban to pay homage to Bangabandhu.

The Bangabandhu Memorial Museum was kept open for all after the Prime Minister left the place.

AL's Dhaka north and south city units, Awami Jubo League, Awami Swechchhasebak League, Mahila Awami League, Jubo Mahila League, Jatiya Sramik League, Bangladesh Krishak League, Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), Tanti League and BCL's Dhaka University unit also paid homage to Bangabandhu.

On behalf of government bodies, offices and ministries, including Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Information and Broadcasting Ministry, Cultural Affairs Ministry, Dhaka University, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), University Grants Commission (UGC), National Human Rights Commission, Bangladesh Betar, Bangla Academy, National Museum, Department of Public Libraries, Shishu Academy, Khelaghar, National Institute of Mass Communication (NIMCO), Bangladesh Rural Development Board (BRDB), Engineers Institution, Bangladesh (IEB), Islamic Foundation (IF) and Bangladesh Bank rich tributes were paid.

Wounded freedom fighters, 1971 Liberation War martyrs' families, Supreme Court Lawyers Association, Sammilita Sangskritik Jote, Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, Sector Commanders Forum, Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Parishad, Employees of Information and Broadcasting Ministry, Jatiya Mahila Sangstha,

Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote, Jatiya Kabita Parishad, Jatiya Gitikobi Parishad, Jubo Union, Chhatra Union, Sheikh Russell Shishu Sangsad, Bangabandhu Krishibid Parishad and different other social, cultural and professional bodies also placed wreaths.

From Dhanmondi, Sheikh Hasina went to the Banani Graveyard where her mother Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, brothers Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal, and Sheikh Russell and other martyrs of August 15, 1975 were laid to eternal rest.

She placed wreaths and spread flower petals on their graves.

Sheikh Hasina also offered Fateha and prayed for eternal peace of the departed souls of the martyrs of August 15.

A smartly turned out contingent of Bangladesh Armed Forces gave a state salute at that time.

Later, Sheikh Hasina went Tungipara in Gopalganj district, the ancestral home of Bangabandhu, by an Air Force helicopter to pay tributes to Bangabandhu by placing wreaths at his mausoleum there.

After placing the wreaths, she stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memory Bangabandhu and other martyrs of August 15 carnage.

A smartly turned out contingent drawn from the armed forces gave a state salute on the occasion, while the bugle was played the last post.

The premier then offered Fateha and munajat at the grave seeking eternal peace of departed souls of the Father of the Nation, Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib and other martyrs of August 15, 1975 massacre.

Prayers were also offered seeking continued peace, progress and prosperity of the nation.

Flanked by senior AL leaders, Sheikh Hasina later placed another wreath at Bangabandhu's grave on behalf of the party.

Leaders of different associate bodies of AL and its front organisations also placed wreaths at the grave.

The prime minister along with cabinet members, party leaders and workers also joined a milad and doa mahfil on the mausoleum premises marking the National Mourning Day.

Special doa and munajat were offered at mosques across the country including Baitul Mukarram National Mosque after Zohr prayers.

Special prayers were also offered at temples, churches, pagodas and other places of worships across the country.

Special supplement was published in national dailies and periodicals highlighting the importance of the day.

The Department of Mass Communication screened documentary films on life and works of Bangabandhu across the country.

The Press Information Department (PID) arranged a weeklong photo exhibition at the Bangladesh Secretariat. Regional Information Offices under PID also organised photo exhibitions at divisional level.

Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television broadcast special programme.

All educational institutions including public and private schools, madrasah, colleges and universities arranged poem recitation, essay, drawing and hamd-naat competitions, art exhibition, doa mahfil and discussions.

In line with the national programmes, discussion, doa mahfil and other programmes were also be held at the district and upazila levels.

City corporations, municipalities and union parishads arranged programmes in observance of the day.

The programme of Dhanmondi and Banani in the capital and Tungipara in Gopalganj were broadcast live on Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television.

Other private television channels, FM radio and community radio also broadcast the programme live in association with Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television.

In Bangladesh missions abroad, National flag was kept at half-mast and discussions and other programme were also arranged.

As part of AL's programme, national and party flags were kept at half mast and black flags are hoisted atop of all AL offices across the country including Bangabandhu Bhaban and central office with the sunrise.

A delegation of Awami League Central Working Committee, Gopalganj district and Tungipara upazila units of the party paid homage to Bangabandhu by placing wreaths at his mausoleum at Tungipara in Gopalganj.

A discussion will be arranged at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) on Tuesday marking the National Mourning Day at 4.30pm.

Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will chair it.