DHAKA: Saturday is the first day of the Month of Mourning. In this month in 1975, people of Bangladesh lost the greatest son of the soil and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
On the fateful night of August 15 in 1975, some over ambitious disgruntled army officers killed Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 16 members of his family and close relations in a military putsch.
Those family members of Bangabandhu massacred in the heinous incident included his wife Begum Fazilatunnessa Mujib, sons Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russell, daughter-in-laws Sultana Kamal and Rosy Jamal. Besides, Bangabandhu's brother Sheikh Naser, sister-in-law Abdur Rab Serniabat, nephew and noted journalist Sheikh Fazlul Huq Moni, his wife Arzoo Moni and Colonel Jamil were also killed on that day.
However, Bangabandhu's two daughters Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana could escape the mayhem as they were abroad then.
The self-confessed killers of August 15 did not assassinate Bangabandhu alone, but also killed 16 other members of his family, friends and relatives. They included Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib, sons Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russell, daughters-in-law Sultana Kamal and Rosy Jamal, Bangabandhu’s brother Sheikh Naser, brother-in-law Abdur Rab Serniabat, nephew and eminent journalist Sheikh Fazlul Huq Moni, his pregnant wife Arzoo Moni and military secretary Colonel Jamil.
Like in the previous years, different political and socio-cultural organisations, including ruling Awami League and its associate bodies have chalked out month-long programmes to observe the month of mourning that will begin from tomorrow.
This year, the nation will observe the National Mourning Day and the 45th anniversary of martyrdom of Father of the Nation.
Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today urged all level party leaders and activists and associate bodies as well as political, cultural and social organizations to observe the day with solemnity, maintaining the social distancing in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also urged all the party units, including metropolitan, district, upazila, municipality and union, to observe the month of mourning coinciding with the central programmes.
Awami Swechchasebak League (ASL) and Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) started the month-long mourning programmes by bringing out a torch procession in the city streets marching towards Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi 32 in the city in the early hours of today.
AL General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader will inaugurate voluntary blood donation, plasma collection and tree plantation programmes virtually to be organized by Swechchasebak League in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at 3 pm this afternoon.
Dhaka south and north units of AL will hold a special doa seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of 15 August martyrs after the prayers of Eid-ul-Azha.
Besides, elaborate programmes have been taken centrally to observe the National Mourning Day on August 15 in a befitting manner.
Bangabandhu was the pioneer and architect of independent Bangladesh and its sovereignty. His political prudence, indomitable courage, eloquence and powerful leadership motivated the countrymen to join in the war of liberation.
August 15 in 1975 is a black-chapter in the history of Bangladeshi nation. Bangabandhu and his family members were ruthlessly murdered by anti liberation force and with the help of army member in this day. And the nation incurred an irretrievable loss. The nation is deeply shocked and full with grief for this shameful incident.
BDST: 1205 HRS, AUG 01, 2020
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