DHAKA, Oct 18, 2023 (BSS) - The Economic Relations Division (ERD) under the Ministry of Finance today observed the Sheikh Russell Day-2023 marking the 60th birthday of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's youngest son Shaheed Sheikh Russell.

In this regard, a discussion meeting was organized in virtual platform by the ERD this afternoon.

Presided over by ERD Secretary Sharifa Khan, the officials of ERD participated in the discussion, said a press release.
 
Russell, also the youngest brother of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was born on October 18 in 1964 at the historic Bangabandhu Bhaban at Dhanmondi road number 32 in the capital.

But, he was brutally assassinated along with most of his family members, including his father Bangabandhu, on August 15, 1975 when he was a student of class four at University Laboratory School.

The Cabinet Division in 2021 declared October 18, the birthday of Sheikh Russell, as 'Sheikh Russell Day' under the category "Ka".

To mark the day, government bodies, ruling Awami League and its associate bodies and different socio-cultural organizations are observing various programmes at national and international levels.

Speakers at the meeting said that Sheikh Russell's death was an irreparable loss to the nation.

In the discussion meeting, the attendees prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul of Sheikh Russell and other martyrs of August 15 and expressed their firm resolve that the ERD would work tirelessly to uphold its positive and effective role in the international arena to materialize the dream of building 'Sonar Bangla' as dreamt by Father of the Nation and 'Smart Bangladesh' declared by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.