Bangladesh embassy observes National Mourning Day in Bangkok

The Bangladesh embassy in Bangkok has observed the National Morning Day by paying tribute to Bangbandhu’s “secular, progressive and humanist” spirit, the embassy says.

A group of Thai School children paid a special tribute to Bangabandhu and laid wreaths at his portrait.

"Let us honour Bangabandhu’s indomitable freedom-loving and secular spirit by standing boldly against terrorism, radicalization, extremism and sectarianism at home and abroad”, Bangladesh Ambassador to Thailand and Permanent Representative to UNESCAP Saida Muna Tasneem said at the discussion on Wednesday at the embassy premises.

Wednesday was the 43rd anniversary of the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members.

Special prayers and a panel discussion were dedicated to mark the day at the embassy premises followed by laying of wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu by Bangladeshi community and Thai school children alongside the ambassador.

A large number of expatriate Bangladeshis living in Thailand including from UNESCAP and other International organisations, businessmen and Bangladeshi students studying in different Thai Universities as well as local Thai people, especially school children participated spontaneously in Bangladesh's National Mourning Day programme.

In her statement Ambassador Tasneem condemned the heinous killing of the Father of the Nation on Aug 15 and termed it as “one of the most shameful and inhumane assassination in world history.”

She also paid a rich tribute to Bangabandhu for his fearless leadership of the Bengali nations emancipation towards its independence and sovereignty in 1971, as well as his diplomatic achievements between 1972-75 towards Bangladesh’s international recognition and membership in the UN.

Ambassador Tasneem also briefed the community of the various initiatives undertaken by the Embassy over the past four years to immortalise Bangbandhu in Thailand and Cambodia including establishment of a PhD level Bangabandhu Chair at the AIT, Thailand, naming of a prominent street in Phnom Penh, Cambodia after the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, translation of the historic March 7 speech to Thai language at the Chulalongklorn University.

Translation of the Bangabandhu’s Unfinished Memoire is currently under way.

Earlier, national flag was hoisted at half-mast at a ceremony, followed by special prayers.

Messages issued on the occasion by President Md Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali were also read out.

A documentary on life and works of Bangbandhu was screened at the programme.