National mourning day

The nation yesterday paid effusive tributes to the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the 33rd anniversary of his death.
On this day in 1975, the father of the nation along with most of his family members was assassinated by a splinter group of the armed forces. His two daughters -- Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana -- escaped the bloodbath since they were abroad at the time.
Bangabandhu's fiercest speech and decisive call for independence on March 7, 1971 -- 'Ebarer sangram amader muktir sangram, ebarer sangram swadhinotar sangram' -- united and spurred the entire nation on to the Liberation War.

In line with a recent High Court (HC) ruling, the caretaker government reinstated August 15 as National Mourning Day and a public holiday.

As the day regained its official status, it was observed this time with renewed spirits, huge preparations at various levels and wider public participation.

Awami League (AL) and its front organisation units in the capital and elsewhere in the country organised food distribution programmes for the destitute and children at orphanages. Black banners were hung at these places.
The day used to be officially observed during the Awami League rule between 1996 and 2001. But the BNP-led four-party alliance, after coming to power in October 2001, scrapped the day's official status, which the HC on July 27 this year declared illegal.

President Iajuddin Ahmed and Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed went to Tungipara to pay tributes to the great leader.

Awami League president and former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, now in US, commemorated the tragic day with her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and prayed for salvation of the departed souls of her family members.

The national flag was hoisted at half-mast atop government, semi-government, non-government and private buildings across the country and at the country's diplomatic missions abroad. Besides national and party flags, Awami League hoisted black flags at its offices.

Special prayers were arranged in mosques, churches, temples and other religious establishments across the country.

Television channels and Bangladesh Betar aired special programmes while newspapers published special supplements on the day. The historic March 7 speech of Bangabandhu and patriotic songs were aired throughout the day

In the capital, hundreds of mourners wearing black badges thronged Bangabandhu Memorial Museum premises on Road-32 in Dhanmondi to pay their respects to his memory. People stood in long queues to place floral wreaths and bouquets at Bangabandhu's portrait.

Awami Leagye high-ups led by acting president Zillur Rahman first placed wreaths at the portrait at 7:55am, observed one minute's silence and offered prayers for salvation of the departed souls. Later, they went to Banani graveyard, placed wreaths and offered special prayers for the salvation of the departed souls. Foods were also distributed there among the poor.

The Awami League leaders called upon the government to officially recognise Bangabandhu as father of the nation as soon as possible.

Zillur Rahman told reporters that the anti-liberation war forces assassinated the greatest leader of the country in a bid to destroy the sprit of independence. Trial of Bangabandhu's killers will be held on the soil of Bangladesh and his lofty ideals established, he added.

The party's front organisations, other political parties and social and cultural organisations placed wreaths later.
Led-by Awami League Presidium member Motia Chowdhury, some central leaders of the party placed wreaths at the grave of Bangabandhu at Tungipara and offered fateha.

Awami League will hold a discussion on Bangabandhu in front of Bangabandhu Bhaban tomorrow with Zillur Rahman in the chair.

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) leaders including Moinuddin Khan Badal and Syed Zafar Sazzad, Ganatantri Party leaders Nurul Islam, Gono Forum leaders Subrato Chowdhury and Mostafa Mohsin Montu, Jatiya Party (Manju) leaders Sheikh Shahidul Islam and Zaker Party's Kaiser Hamid also placed wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu.
Other organisations which placed wreaths included Supreme Court Lawyers' Association, Sammilito Sangskritik Jote, Muktijoddha Parishad, Peshajibi Samannay Parishad, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists, Dhaka Union of Journalists, Dhaka Ainjibi Samity and Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee,

Swechchasebak League and Bangabandhu Memorial Trust organised blood donation programme, Swadhinata Chikithsak Parishad conducted a free medical service programme, and different organisations distributed foods among the poor on Road- 32 in Dhanmondi.

Jatiya Party, Communist Party of Bangladesh and Progressive Democratic Party organised discussions on Bangabandhu's life at separate places in the capital.