Nation observes National Mourning Day today

The nation will observe the National Mourning Day today (Wednesday) with due solemnity, marking the 43rd anniversary of assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, reports UNB.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman - the architect of the country's independence -- was assassinated along with most of his family members at the crack of dawn on August 15, 1975 by some army personnel under a deep-rooted conspiracy against the country and its independence.

His two daughters -- Sheikh Hasina, now the Prime Minister, and Sheikh Rehana - luckily survived the massacre as they were abroad at that time.

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.

Bangabandhu's Military Secretary Colonel Jamil Uddin Ahmad (Bir Uttam), who was later promoted posthumously to the rank of Brigadier General, was also killed during the massacre. Some members of a family at Mohammadpur in the capital were killed by artillery shells fired by the killers on the same day.

The day is a public holiday.

The government, different socio-cultural, political and professional organisations, including ruling Awami League and its associate bodies, have taken various programmes to mark the day.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will pay tributes to Bangbandhu at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi Road-32 at 6:30 am.

Sheikh Hasina will also place wreaths at the graves of the members of Bangabandhu's family and other martyrs at Banani graveyard.

She will place wreaths at the Bangabandhu Mausoleum in Tungipara of Gopalganj at 10:00am and take part in a milad and doa mahfil there.

The national flag will be kept half-mast at government, autonomous, semi-autonomous, educational institutions, private buildings and Bangladesh missions in abroad.

A doa will be offered after Zohr prayers in all mosques across the country while special prayers will be arranged in temples, pagodas, churches and other worship places at convenient time across the country.

Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television and private TV channels and radio stations will air special programmes highlighting the life, struggle and achievements of the great leader while newspapers will bring out supplements on the occasion.

Islamic Foundation of Bangladesh and Bangabandhu Gabeshana Parishad will also arrange programmes on the occasion.

Meanwhile, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages commemorating the National Mourning Day.