The nation on Thursday observed the National Mourning Day with due respect, marking the 44th anniversary of the assassination of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina led the nation in paying rich tribute to Bangabandhu, the greatest Bangalee of all time, who had a dream to build his country a hunger-and-poverty-free Sonar Bangla.
Since early morning, people from all walks of life in metropolitan cities including capital Dhaka, district towns, upazila headquarters, unions and villages across the country, paid rich tribute to Bangabandhu, the architect of Independence.
They also offered prayers seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of the martyrs of August 15. Prayers were also offered seeking continued peace, progress and prosperity of the nation.
People, mostly the young, expressed their firm determination to work together for materialising the dream of Bangabandhu to build ‘Sonar Bangla’ and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s developed Bangladesh.
They gathered in their respective areas to grieve together for Bangabandhu.
The elderly people also turned emotional while talking about the Bangabandhu’s charismatic power, love and affection for the Bangalee people.
Some of them could not even hold back tears while talking about the assassination of the Father of the Nation.
Apart from the common people, in observance of the day, the government, different socio-cultural, political and professional organisations, including the ruling Awami League and its associate bodies, also took out mourning processions and held rallies, discussions and other various programmes to mark the day paying tributes to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
On the dreadful and fateful night of August 15 in 1975, Bangabandhu was assassinated, along with most of his family members, by some disgruntled and over ambitious army officers at his Dhanmondi Road-32 residence in the capital.
But Bangabandhu’s two daughters -- Sheikh Hasina, now the prime minister, and Sheikh Rehana - luckily escaped the massacre as they were abroad at the time.
However, eighteen members of the family along with Bangabandhu’s wife Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, three sons Captain Sheikh Kamal, Lt Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russell, two daughters-in-law Sultana Kamal and Rosy Jamal, brother Sheikh Naser, peasant leader Abdur Rob Serniabat, youth leader Sheikh Fazlul Haq Moni and his wife Arzu Moni, Baby Serniabat, Sukanta Babu, Arif and Abdul Nayeem Khan Rintu were killed on the fateful night.
In capital Dhaka, earlier in the morning, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid homage to the architect of the independence by placing wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi Road No. 32 in the morning.
As part of the state programme, the President and the Prime Minister laid wreaths separately at the portrait of Bangabandhu.
Later, Sheikh Hasina, also the President of Bangladesh Awami League, flanked by party’s General Secretary Obaidul Quader and senior leaders placed wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu on behalf of the Awami League.
After paying tributes to Bangabandhu, the Premier along with her daughter Saima Wazed Hossain visited the historic residence of Bangabandhu at Dhanmondi Road No. 32 which witnessed the world’s most barbaric carnage on this date 44 years ago.
Sheikh Hasina stayed in the house, which has now been turned into Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, for some time.
From Dhanmondi, the Prime Minister later went to Banani Graveyard where her mother Bangamata Fazilatunnesa Mujib, brothers Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russell and other martyrs of August 15 were laid to eternal rest.
Later, Sheikh Hasina flew to Tungipara in Gopalganj and paid rich tributes to Bangabandhu by placing a wreath at his mazar in the morning on the occasion of his 44th martyrdom anniversary and the National Mourning Day.
After laying the wreath, the prime minister stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memory of the architect of the independence.
A smartly turned out contingent drawn from the three services gave a state salute on the occasion, while the bugle played the Last Post. Chiefs of the three services were present at the time.
The premier then offered Fateha and joined a munajat at the mazar seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of Father of the Nation, Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib and other martyrs of August 15, 1975 massacre.
