President Hamid, Prime Minister Hasina pay respects to Bangabandhu

President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have paid their respects to the memory of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Aug 15 marks National Mourning Day, the anniversary of the assassination of Bangladesh’s first president and members of his family.

Bangabandhu’s daughter Hasina arrived at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhaka’s Dhanmondi Road 32, shortly before 6:30am. President Hamid arrived soon afterwards.

The president and the prime minister placed wreaths before the portrait of Bangabandhu and stood for moments in silence. Representatives from the Armed Forces saluted Bangabandhu. A prayer service was held for those killed on Aug 15, 1975.

House Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha placed flowers before Bangabandhu’s portrait after the president departed.

Hasina, in her role as Awami League president, then led a delegation of the party leaders and activists and placed flowers before the portrait.

Workers Party leader Rashed Khan Menon, Jatiya Party’s Anwar Hossain Monju, Samyabadi Dal's Dilip Barua and other members of the 14-party Awami League alliance then paid their respects.

Deputy Speaker Md Fazle Rabbi Miah and Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sayeed Khokon followed the Awami League alliance leaders.

Hasina and her family then spent some time at the Dhanmondi house.

At 7:30am, Hasina and her younger sister Sheikh Rehana went to the Banani cemetery, where members of the family killed on Aug 15 are buried.

The two daughters of the family, accompanied by Awami League leaders, paid their respects and placed flowers at the graves.

Hasina left for Gopalganj’s Tungipara at 10am to place flowers on Bangabandhu’s tomb after her Dhaka schedule was complete.

President Hamid will attend a prayer service at the Bangabhaban in the afternoon. Chief Justice Sinha will lead a discussion at the Supreme Court premises.

Many political, social and cultural organisations are also hosting events to mark National Mourning Day.