Bangladesh mourns its independence hero

Bangladesh remembered the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, on his 39th death anniversary on Friday with humility and respect.

On this day in 1975, a group of rogue army officers killed the then president Bangabandhu, the architect of Bangladesh's independence, along with most of his family members.

The day was observed as the National Mourning Day. It was a national holiday.

Apart from government programmes, the ruling Awami League organised elaborate programmes to mark the day.

Programmes started at sunrise on Friday with the national flag put at a half-mast.

The Awami League flew the national flag at half-mast and hoisted black flags at its offices across Bangladesh.

President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid respects at Sheikh Mujib's mural in front of the Bangabandhu Bhaban at road 32, in Dhanmondi around 6:45am.

Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain then paid their respects.

Later, recitation from the Quran was followed by a special prayer.

Cabinet members, the prime minister's advisors, parliament members, cabinet secretary, chiefs of three forces, senior leaders of the Awami League and 14-party combine, and senior government officials were present there.

Hasina, also the Awami League president, afterwards paid tributes to her father on the party's behalf.

Various affiliates of the ruling party and other organisations also paid their respects.

Following them, thousands of people, who had lined up since morning, also paid their tributes to the Father of the Nation.

President Abdul Hamid, in a message, urged all to turn the grief into strength and devote themselves into building a prosperous Bangladesh.

Describing the day as heartrending and a disgraceful chapter in the nation’s history, he said, “The name of the Father of the Nation will remain sculpted forever in the hearts of millions of Bengalis.”

The president also said “highest possible initiatives” were on to bring the convicted killers of Bangabandhu back and execute the verdicts.

In another message, Hasina prayed for her father and family members and the others who were murdered that day.

She said, “The people attained independence by breaking the shackles of subjugation of thousands of years, under the dynamic, courageous and charismatic leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. And the Bengali nation got its own independent state, flag and national anthem.”

“The killers were able to kill Bangabandhu but not his dreams and ideals. Bangabandhu’s ideals of long struggle and sacrifice are embedded in the heart of the Bengali nation.”

A handful of renegade army officials on Aug 15, 1975 assassinated the independence hero along with his wife Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib, sons Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russel, daughters-in-law Sultana Kamal and Rosy Jamal, younger brother Sheikh Abu Naser, nephew Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni and brother-in-law Abdur Rab Serniyabat, Moni’s wife Begum Arju Moni and Serniabat’s daughter ‘Baby’, son ‘Arif’ and grandson Sukanto Babu.

Sheikh Mujib’s security chief Col Jamiluddin Ahmed, police’s Special Branch Sub-Inspector Siddiqur Rahman, three guests and four domestic helpers were the others to fall.

His daughters Hasina and Sheikh Rehana survived for their being in Europe at the time.

The prime minister accompanied by Awami League leaders went to the Banani Graveyard and paid homage around 7:30am. Special prayers were later held there.

Hasina then went to Gopalganj's Tungiparha and placed floral wreaths at the grave of Bangabandhu.

The Mahila Awami League organised a special prayer at Bangabandhu Bhaban in the afternoon. Hasina, her daughter Saima Wazed Hossain Putul and family members attended the prayers.

Special prayers were also held at mosques after the Juma prayers, temples, pagodas, churches and other places of worship across the country.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was born on Mar 17, 1920 at Tungiparha in Gopalganj.

He came to limelight with the formation of Purba Pakistan Chhatra League following the end of British rule in the Indian sub-continent.

Mujib continued to rise in national politics because of his active involvement in the Language Movement in 1952, 1954 general elections, and six-point declaration in1966.

His arrest in the Agaratala conspiracy case catapulted him into national limelight, making him the undisputed leader of the Bengalis' freedom struggle against Pakistani exploitation.

He was given 'Bangabandhu' title after he was freed from jail in 1969.

On Mar 7, 1971 he delivered the historical speech at Race Course Maidan (Now Suhrawardy Udyan), which inspired the Bengalis to wage an armed struggle to win independence from Pakistan.

August 15 is being observed differently in different political situations since 1975.

The day was not observed officially for 20 years until 1996, when the Awami League assumed office and announced the day as the National Mourning Day.