The nation will pay rich tribute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman today (Friday) in observance of the National Mourning Day commemorating his 39th anniversary of martyrdom. On August 15 in 1975, Bangabandhu, the architect of Bangladesh’s independence, and most members of his family, except the two daughters, Sheikh Hasina, now Prime Minister, and Sheikh Rehana, who were fortunately abroad at the time, were killed by a splinter group of the armed forces.The day is a public holiday. The government, the ruling Awami League, different socio-cultural, political and professional bodies have chalked out elaborate programmes to observe the day with due solemnity. The National Flag will be hoisted at half-mast and black flags will be raised atop all government, semi-government offices, autonomous bodies, educational institutions, private buildings and Bangladesh missions abroad at dawn as a mark of respect to the martyrs of August 15 carnage.The President and the Prime Minister will place wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi at 6:30 am. The Armed Forces will present a guard of honour on the occasion.The Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, will also place wreaths on the graves of the members of Bangabandhu’s family and other martyrs at Banani graveyard at 7:30 am.She will place wreath at the grave of Bangabandhu in Tungipara of Gopalganj at 10:00 am.A milad mahfil will be held at the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban at 5:00 pm to mark the day.Mohila Awami League will organize a milad mahfil on the occasion at Bangabandhu Bhaban at Dhanmondi after Asr prayers. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will attend the milad.President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages commemorating the National Mourning Day.In his message, the President said the brutality (that marked the 15th August in 1975) is rare in the history of the Bangali nation as well as of the mankind. The aims of the killers were not only to kill Bangabandhu but also to annihilate the ideals of the War of Liberation and reinstate the defeated forces.”The assassins though killed the Father of the Nation, yet they could not wipe out the principle and belief of Bangabandhu. I am confident that the name of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman will remain ever shining in the minds of millions of Bangali so long as the country and its people will live,” he added.In her message, the Prime Minister said the killers were able to kill Bangabandhu, but they could not kill his dreams and ideals. The ideals of long struggle of sacrifice of Bangabandhu are implanted in the hearts of the Bangali nation.”Let us engage ourselves to materialise his dream of building a Golden Bangladesh turning into strength the grief of the great loss of the Father of the Nation. We must win the struggle to establish an economically solvent democratic and non-communal Bangladesh which will be totally free from hunger, illiteracy and poverty,” she added.The following day (Aug 16), Awami League will hold a discussion at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the capital at 4:00 pm. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be the chief guest at the event.State-run Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television as well as private television channels and radio stations will air special programmes highlighting the life, struggle and achievements of the slain leader. Newspapers will bring out supplements on the occasion.
