Bangladesh News

Thousands of mourners thronged the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum premises on Road No. 32 of Dhanmondi in the capital yesterday to pay tributes to slain Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on his 31st death anniversary.

Soon after the half-day hartal enforced by Awami League (AL) and its 14-party allies, people from all walks of life went to the Bangabandhu Bhaban in Dhanmondi where the great leader was assassinated along with most of his family members on this day in 1975 by some misguided members of the armed forces.

The mourners carrying banners and wearing black badges stood in long queues to place floral wreaths and bouquets at Bangabandhu’s portrait. Many chanted slogans demanding execution of the verdict in the Bangabandhu murder case.

The Bangabandhu Museum premises were decorated with photographs of Bangabandhu and his family members, posters and banners depicting important incidents in the great leader’s long political career. There was also an exhibition of books on Bangabandhu. His historic speech of March 7, 1971, songs and poems on him were also being played over loudspeakers.

The AL, its front organisations and different socio-cultural groups observed Bangabandhu’s death anniversary as the national mourning day. National and party flags were hoisted at the half-mast alongside black flags at all party offices across the country.

Sheikh Hasina, leader of the opposition and elder daughter of Bangabandhu, placed wreaths on the portrait of Bangabandhu at 12:15pm and stood in silence for some time. Senior party leaders accompanied her at the time.

Bangabandhu’s youngest daughter Sheikh Rehana, Hasina’s husband Dr Wajed Miah and son Sajeeb Wajed Joy also placed wreaths on the portrait of the father of the nation who led the country’s independence.

Hasina, also the AL president, spent several hours at the Bangabandhu Bhaban, recited from the Holy Quran and offered doa for the peace of the departed souls of her father, mother, brothers and other relatives assassinated on the dreadful night on August 15 in 1975. Hasina as usually fasted on the day.

Later, she went to the Banani Graveyard and offered fateha and placed wreaths at the graves of her family members.

Hasina along with her sister, son and central AL leaders will attend a mourning programme at Tungipara today.

Senior leaders of AL, its front organisations, different political, social and cultural organisations also laid wreaths at Banga-bandhu’s portrait.

Leaders of 14-party opposition combine Dr Kamal Hossain, Rashed Khan Menon, Hasanul Haq Inu, Mainuddin Khan Badal, Syed Zafar Sajjad, Sharif Nurul Ambia, Pankaj Bhattacharjee, Dilip Barua, Sheikh Shahidul Islam, Nurul Islam, Asit Baran Roy, MA Gani and Zakir Hossain, among others, placed floral wreaths at Bangabandhu’s portrait.

AL Presidium Member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Joint General Secretary Obaidul Quader and other central leaders placed wreaths at the grave of Bangabandhu at Tungipara and offered fateha.

The AL organised milad mahfils and destitute feeding programmes in front of the party central office on Bangabandhu Avenue and in different parts of the capital.

Sheikh Russell Jatiya Shishu Kishore Parishad observed a token hunger strike at Dhanmondi demanding execution of the Bangabandhu murder case verdict.

Meanwhile, ruling BNP men attacked AL leaders and workers in city’s Kamrangirchar and Lalbagh areas to foil their destitute feeding programmes.

OTHER PROGRAMMES
The Communist Party of Bangladesh organised a series of discussions in different parts of the country demanding immediate execution of the verdict of Bangabandhu killing case and identification of the patrons and foreign forces that supported the killing.

Jatiya Party (JP-Manju) organised a discussion at the Diploma Engineers’ Institution in the capital on the life of Bangabandhu.

Hasina’s son Joy distributed food among poor children in different parts of the city.

Gono Forum organised a mourning rally from Jatrabari to Postagola. Jatiya Janata Party also organised a discussion on Bangabandhu at its central office in the capital.

The Awami Swechchhasebak League, Jubo League, Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, Lions Club and Red Crescent organised blood-donation programmes in front of the Bangabandhu Museum.

Milad mahfil was also organised at the central mosques and dormitories of Dhaka University and other public universities, government colleges and institutions across the country.

Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists, Dhaka Union of Journalists, Dhaka University Teachers’ Association, Dhaka Ainjibi Samity, Dhaka Metropolitan Bar Association, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Open University, Sher-e-Bangla Agriculture University, Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad central command, Bangabandhu Parishad, Muktijoddha Parishad, Mohila Muktijoddha Sangsad, Muktijoddha Oikya Parishad, Swadhinata Chikitshak Parishad, Sheikh Russell Shishu Kishore Parishad, Jatiya Sramik League and other organisations placed wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu.