National Mourning Day will be observed today marking the 36th anniversary of death of the country's founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman amid a demand of bringing back home six killers of Mujib who are hiding overseas.
Mujib was assassinated along with all but two of his family on August 15, 1975. Mujib's daughters – Sheikh Hasina, now the prime minister, and Sheikh Rehana – survived the massacre as they were abroad at that time.
The government, political parties, and different cultural and social organisations are already holding month-long programmes to pay homage to Mujib and the members of his family who were killed.
A disgruntled section of army officers 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, brother-in-law Abdur Rab Serniabat, also a farmers' leader, nephew Sheikh Fazlul Huq Moni, also a youth leader, and his wife Arzu Moni, Baby Serniabat, Sukanta Babu, Arif and Abdul Nayeem Khan Rintu on the fateful night of August 15.
The Awami League government, during its previous tenure in office, on August 8, 1996, declared August 15 National Mourning Day and a public holiday but its successor, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led coalition government, scrapped the decision on August 2, 2002.
The High Court on July 27, 2008 declared the BNP-led government's decision illegal. And the day is now a public holiday.
Five of Mujib's 12 killers sentenced to death penalty were executed in 2010 and six are hiding overseas.
The prison authorities hanged five of the killers on January 27, 2010, a year after the Awami League-led alliance government had assumed office. The executed are Syed Faruk Rahman, Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan, Muhiuddin Ahmed, Bazlul Huda and AKM Mohiuddin Ahmed.
The government has vowed to bring back the fugitive killers - Khandaker Abdur Rashid, Shariful Haq Dalim, MA Rashed Chowdhury, SHMB Noor Chowdhury, Abdul Mazed and Moslem Uddin - to face the court verdict. One of the killers, Aziz Pasha, reportedly died abroad.
The ruling Awami League and its front organisations are holding mourning programmes throughout August as part of their observance of National Mourning Day on August 15.
The president, Zillur Rahman, and the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, in separate messages on the occasion paid tributes to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The president paid rich tribute to Sheikh Mujib and said, 'Sheikh Mujibur Rahman always upheld the people's interest throughout his life.
'Although the conspirators killed the Father of the Nation, yet they could not wipe out the ideal and beliefs of Bangabandhu.'
He said, 'Most of the killers of Bangabandhu have been executed and efforts are under way to bring back home the fugitive convicts from abroad and fully execute the court verdict.'
'The nation must rest assured that the killers have no room in any corner in the world,' said Zillur, also a long-time aide of Mujib.
'The contributions of Bangabandhu to our national history are paramount and resplendent' he added.
The prime minister vowed to establish an economically solvent, democratic and non-communal Bangladesh which will be free of hunger, illiteracy and poverty.
She added, 'The killers murdered Bangabandhu but they could not kill his dreams and ideals. Millions of people are nurturing in their hearts the ideals of Bangabandhu.'
The government has also chalked up various programmes to observe the day in a befitting manner.
The national flag will fly at half-mast at government, semi-government and autonomous organisations, educational institutions, private buildings and Bangladesh missions abroad.
The national flag will fly at half-mast at Bangabandhu Bhaban and party offices across the country at sunrise.
The president and the prime minister will place flowers at the portrait of Mujib at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi at 6:30am today. The Armed Forces will present a guard of honour and a special prayer session will be held.
The prime minister will also place wreaths on the graves of the members of Mujib's family and other martyrs in the Banani graveyard at 7:30am.
Awami League leaders will visit Tungipara to place wreaths on Mujib's grave at 10:10am. Special prayers will be said in mosques, temples, churches and other places of worships in the afternoon.
The party will hold a discussion at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the capital at 3:00pm on August 16. Hasina will attend as chief guest.
The Awami League and several other political, socio-cultural and professional organisations will hold sessions of mass prayers and place wreaths at the portrait of Mujib at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum.
The Bangladesh Mahila Awami League will bring out a mourning procession and hold a prayer session at Bangabandhu Bhaban at 11:00am.
A prayer session will also be held at Bangabhaban Jame Mosque after the asr prayers. The president, Zillur Rahman, is expected to attend.
Different cultural and social organisations have also chalked up programmes such as discussions, art exhibitions,book fairs, special prayer sessions, iftar parties and others.
The Communist Party of Bangladesh will hold a discussion in its office at 4:00pm. The Bangla Academy will arrange a discussion at 11:00am.
The Dhaka Club will hold a special prayer session after the asr prayers at the club. The Dhaka Art Centre will inaugurate a seven-day exhibition titled Antare Mama Tumi. The foreign minister, Dipu Moni, will attend the opening ceremony at 5:00pm as chief guest.
The Bangladesh Film Development Corporation will hold an discussion at 4:00pm. Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra will bring out a mourning procession from the National Press Club at 2:00pm.
The National Book Centre will hold a three-day book fair at the Directorate of Libraries.
The Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel will host an iftar party for the poor children at 5:00pm.
The Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh will hold a discussion at 5:00pm.
The Comptroller General of Accounts will hold a discussion in its office at 11:00am.
The National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation will provide free treatment on the occasion.
State-run Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television and private television channels and radio stations will air special programmes to highlight the life, struggle and achievements of the slain leader. Newspapers will bring out special supplements.
District and upazila administrations will observe the day by holding discussions, prayer sessions and other programmes.
The Awami League's general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam in a statement urged the party leaders, activists, supporters, well-wishers and leaders of its front organisations to observe the day.
Source : New Age
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