The National Mourning Day was observed today across the country, marking the 45th death anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family members.
Sheikh Mujib was assassinated along with all but two of his family members on August 15, 1975 at his Dhanmandi residence in Dhaka by a group of army personnel.
A group of army personnel killed Mujib, his wife Fazilatunnesa Mujib, sons Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russell, daughters-in-law Sultana Kamal and Rosy Jamal, brother Sheikh Naser, nephew Sheikh Fazlul Huq Moni, also a youth leader, his wife Arzu Moni, Mujib’s brother-in-law Abdur Rab Serniabat, also a peasant leader, his daughter Baby Serniabat, son Arif Serniabat, grandson Sukanta Abdullah Babu, AL leader Amir Hossain Amu’s cousin Abdul Nayeem Khan Rintu and Mujib’s chief security officer colonel Jamiluddin Ahmed on the night of August 15, 1975.
Five of the 12 army officers, condemned convicts of Mujib killing — Syed Faruk Rahman, Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan, Muhiuddin Ahmed, Bazlul Huda and AKM Mohiuddin Ahmed — were executed on January 27, 2010, a year after the Awami League-led alliance government had assumed office for the second time.
Among the six other condemned convicts, Khandaker Abdur Rashid, Shariful Haq Dalim, MA Rashed Chowdhury, SHMB Noor Chowdhury are still in hiding abroad while retired Lt Col Aziz Pasha reportedly died in Zimbabwe in 2001.
Abdul Majed was hanged on April 12, 2020, days after he was arrested at Mirpur in Dhaka on his return from India.
The remaining condemned convict, Moslem Uddin, is still in hiding. Indian media, however, have claimed that Indian authorities have handed Moslem Uddin over to Bangladesh. The government rejected the claim.
The government, Awami League and different political and socio-cultural organisations, educational institutions and professional groups observed the day by observing elaborate programmes.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on the eve of the Day.
The government took elaborate programmes to observe the Day with due respect and solemnity. As part of the programmes, the national flag was hoisted at half-mast atop the offices of all government, semi-government and autonomous bodies and educational institutions today.
In the morning, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina placed wreaths at the portrait of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi Road No. 32 in the capital.
A smartly turned out contingent of the Armed Forces gave a guard of honour to the portrait of Bangabandhu. A special munajat and fateha were also offered there.
Awami League (AL) General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, AL Presidium members Begum Matia Chowdhury and 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.
In the morning, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina along with her daughter Saima Wazed Hossain placed a wreath and offered fateha at the Banani graveyard for the family members of tSheikh Mujib and others, who embraced martyrdom with Bangabandhu on August 15, 1975.
Bangladesh missions abroad arranged discussions with hoisting the national flag at half-mast atop their respective offices.
Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television, private TV channels and radio stations aired special programmes in observance of the National Mourning Day.
National dailies and local newspapers brought out special supplements on the occasion.
