Bangladesh News

The nation observes the 33rd death anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the architect of its independence, after a six-year break in state observance of the day.

In line with a High Court (HC) ruling, the government recently reinstated August 15 as National Mourning Day and a public holiday to commemorate the assassination of the father of the nation.

The BNP-led alliance government had stripped the day of its state status in 2002. But the HC on July 27 this year declared the decision illegal.

August 15 was first declared National Mourning Day by the Awami League (AL) government in 1996.

On this day in 1975, Bangabandhu and most of his family were brutally killed by a band of rogue army men. His two daughters–Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana–escaped the bloodbath as they were abroad at that time.

Three separate attacks left as many as 24 people killed that night.

The victims include Bangabandhu’s wife Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib, sons Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and nine-year-old Sheikh Russell, daughters-in-law Sultana Kamal, Parveen Jamal, brother Sheikh Naser, nephew Sheikh Fazlul Huq Moni and his wife Begum Arju Moni, brother-in-law Abdur Rab Serniabat, 13-year-old Baby Serniabat, Serniabat’s son Arif and four-year-old grandson Babu, three guests, four servants, and Bangabandhu’s security chief Colonel Jamil Uddin Ahmed.

Two months and 18 days after the massacre, four close associates of Bangabandhu and independence stalwarts Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmed, AHM Quamruzzaman and Captain M Mansur Ali met the same fate as their leader’s.

Bangabandhu united the Bangalee nation to break the shackles of Pakistani oppression, and steered them to independence. His stirring speech before a crowd of lakhs raring to stake everything for freedom on March 7, 1971 earned him a place beyond compare in the annuls of history.

After all these years, uncertainty still looms over the trial of his killers.

For 21 long years, the killers had been immune from prosecution thanks to Indemnity Ordinance. The infamous law was finally repealed in 1996, allowing trial of the case. A murder case was filed on October 2, 1996.

In November 1998, the trial court awarded death penalty to 15 former army officers in the Bangabandhu Murder Case.

The HC upheld the death sentence of 12.

Of the 12, Lt Col (sacked) Syed Farooq-ur Rahman, Lt Col (retd) Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan, Lt Col (retd) Muhiuddin Ahmed, Lt Col (retd) AKM Mahiuddin Ahmed (Lancer) and Major (retd) Bazlul Huda are behind bars while six are holed up abroad. Aziz Pasha, the other one, died.

Those still at large are Shariful Haque Dalim, AKM Mahiuddin, Rashed Chowdhury, Nur Chowdhury, Abdul Mazed and Moslemuddin.

After the changeover in January last year, the five on death row filed appeals with the Supreme Court (SC). But the appeals remain shelved in the apex court as the Appellate Division is still shy of a judge to form a three-member bench required to hear the appeals.

State counsel of this case Anisul Huq yesterday told The Daily Star that they did not yet appeal to the SC for hearing the appeals considering the shortage of judges.

Abdullah-al Mamun, a counsel for the convicts, said that the appeals lie unheard since the chief justice has yet to constitute a bench for hearing.

He said that his clients are not sincere for appealing to the SC for hearing and disposing of their appeals.

Along with the Awami League (AL), different political parties, student and socio-cultural organisations have taken up elaborated programmes including discussions to mourn the August 15 killings and demand execution of the verdict in Bangabandhu murder case.

President Iajuddin Ahmed and Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed will place floral wreaths at Bangabandhu’s tomb at Tungipara in Gopalganj. The president yesterday issued a statement to pay respect to the founding father.

The same day AL central leaders laid wreaths and offered special prayers at the grave of Bangabandhu. AL acting president Zillur Rahman in a statement thanked the government for reinstating the day as National Mourning Day.