National
Remembering Bangabandhu: Bangladesh Observes National Mourning Day
The nation is gearing up to commemorate the National Mourning Day and the 48th anniversary of the martyrdom of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, on Tuesday with solemnity and deep respect.
On the tragic night of August 15, 1975, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members were brutally assassinated by a group of disgruntled army personnel, marking one of the darkest chapters in the nation’s history.
In addition to Bangabandhu and his wife, Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatun Nesha Mujib, 26 others, including family members and relatives, lost their lives on that day, as stated on the AL website.
The list of martyrs encompasses Bangabandhu’s eldest son, Sheikh Kamal, second son Sheikh Jamal, daughters-in-law Sultana Kamal and Parveen Jamal Rozi, youngest son, ten-year-old Sheikh Russell, younger brother Sheikh Abu Nasser, nephew Sheikh Fazlul Haque Mani, along with his pregnant wife Begum Arju Moni, and Bangabandhu’s brother-in-law Abdur Rab Serniabat. The tragic night also claimed the life of Colonel Jamil Uddin Ahmad, Bangabandhu’s chief security officer.
His two surviving daughters, Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana, who now serves as Prime Minister, narrowly escaped the planned assassination as they were abroad during the tragic incident.
To commemorate this day, the government has outlined a comprehensive program, including flying the national flag at half-mast across all government and semi-government institutions, autonomous bodies, educational institutions, and Bangladesh’s missions abroad, as reported by BSS.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will pay their respects to Bangabandhu by laying wreaths at his portrait at 6:30 am in front of the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum on Dhanmondi Road No-32 in the capital.
The Prime Minister will also place wreaths at the Banani Graveyard on the graves of Bangabandhu’s family members and other martyrs who tragically lost their lives on August 15, 1975. She will offer Fateha and munajat to seek eternal peace for their departed souls.
Cabinet members, lawmakers, political parties, socio-cultural organizations, and government bodies will also pay tribute by placing wreaths at Bangabandhu’s portrait on Dhanmondi Road No-32. Similar wreaths will be laid at the mausoleum of Bangabandhu in Tungipara, Gopalganj, accompanied by prayers and discussions.
Other martyrs of the August 15 tragedy will also be honored with wreaths at their graves at the Banani graveyard in the capital. Educational institutions will organize various competitions, cultural events, and photo exhibitions.
National newspapers will feature special supplements, while Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television will broadcast programs to remember the brutal assassination of Bangabandhu.
The ruling Awami League (AL) has also arranged various programs, including flying national and party flags at half-mast and hoisting black flags at all AL offices across the country, including Bangabandhu Bhaban and the central office at Bangabandhu Avenue.
AL leaders and workers will pay their respects to Bangabandhu by laying wreaths at his portrait at 6:30 am in the premises of the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum on Dhanmondi Road No-32.
Tributes will also be paid to the other martyrs of August 15 by placing wreaths at their graves in the Banani graveyard at 8 am. Special prayers and milad mahfil will also be held there.
A delegation from AL’s Gopalganj district and Tungipara upazila units will pay homage to Bangabandhu at his mausoleum in Tungipara at 12 pm, followed by fateha offerings and special prayers.
Various religious communities across the country, including mosques, temples, churches, and pagodas, will hold special prayers to honor the National Mourning Day.
As part of the central program, a candlelight vigil and special prayers will be observed at Mirpur Baptist Church at one minute past midnight on August 15.
Christian, Buddhist, and Hindu communities will also conduct special prayers at their respective places of worship.
Food distribution to the underprivileged, orphans, and distressed individuals will take place nationwide.
A discussion will be held at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) at 4 pm on August 16, chaired by Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecasted light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty winds at most places across the Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions. Some areas may experience moderately heavy to very heavy rainfall, according to their latest weather bulletin released on Thursday.
Day and night temperatures are expected to remain nearly unchanged across the country.
The highest rainfall in the country over the past 24 hours was recorded in Kumarkhali, with 104mm of rain by 6 a.m. on Thursday.
The axis of the monsoon trough extends from India’s Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal to Assam, passing through Bangladesh, with one of its associated troughs stretching into the North Bay of Bengal.
The monsoon remains active over Bangladesh and moderate to strong over the North Bay region.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecasted that the mild heat wave currently affecting parts of the country, including the capital, is expected to subside in most areas within the next 24 hours, starting from 9 am today.
“A mild heat wave is sweeping across the divisions of Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, and Sylhet, as well as the districts of Jashore, Chuadanga, and Kushtia. It is likely to ease in most regions,” the department reported.
In addition, BMD predicted light to moderate rainfall or thundershowers, accompanied by temporary gusty winds, across most of Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions. Some areas are expected to experience moderate to very heavy rainfall.
Temperatures across the country may drop by 1-2 degrees Celsius during both day and night.
On Monday, Dinajpur in the Rangpur division recorded the country’s highest temperature at 38.6°C, while Bandarban in the Chattogram division saw the lowest temperature at 24.6°C early today.
Meanwhile, rainfall recorded in the past 24 hours, ending at 6 am today, reached 66 mm in Nikli of Dhaka Division.
The sunset in Dhaka is at 5:53 pm today, and sunrise is expected at 5:49 am tomorrow.
Two separate murder cases were filed today in connection with the deaths of a private service holder and a Madrasa student during the anti-discrimination student movement.
The first case was lodged by Ridwan Ahmed with Panchlaish police station, accusing former ministers Dr. Hasan Mahmud, Barrister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Naufel, and 127 others for the death of his nephew Sujan, 14. Sujan, the son of Belal Hossain from Beramara village in Noakhali’s Sadar Thana, was a student at Al Jamirul Hayat Madrasa in the city’s Chandgaon area. He was fatally shot in the Muradpur area on July 18.
The second case was filed by Jamal Uddin at Doublemooring police station, accusing 225 individuals, including Dr. Hasan Mahmud and Education Minister Barrister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Naufel, for the killing of his elder brother Alam, a private service holder, on August 5.
