DHAKA, Aug 15, 2021 (BSS) - The nation today observed the National
Mourning Day and 46th martyrdom anniversary of Father of the Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman amid different programmes with due
respect.

  Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of
his family members were brutally killed by some disgruntled army men
on the fateful night of August 15, 1975 and this carnage is touted as
the ugliest chapter of the nation's history.

  Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the eldest daughter of Bangabandhu,
escaped the planned assassination with her sister Sheikh Rehana as
they were staying overseas then.

   The government took elaborate programmes to observe the day with
due respect and solemnity, maintaining health guidelines.

   As part of the programme, the national flag was hoisted half-mast
at the buildings of all government, semi-government, autonomous,
educational institutions and private offices.

   Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid rich tribute to Father of the
Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, marking the National
Mourning Day and the 46th anniversary of his martyrdom.

  As part of the state program, the Prime Minister paid homage to the
architect of the country's independence by placing wreath at the
portrait of Bangabandhu in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at
Dhanmondi Road No 32 in the capital in the morning.

  After placing wreath, the premier stood in solemn silence for some
time showing profound respect to the great leader.

  A smartly turned out contingent of Bangladesh Armed Forces gave a
state salute at that time, while the bugle played a tune of grief and
somber to the last post.

  A munajat was also offered seeking eternal peace of the departed
souls of the August 15 carnage.

    Later, the Prime Minister visited the historic residence of Father
of the Nation at Dhanmondi Road No. 32 which witnessed the world's
most barbaric carnage on this day 46 years back.

   Sheikh Hasina stayed in the house, which has now been turned into
Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, for a while.

   From Dhanmondi, the Premier later went to Banani Graveyard where
her mother Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib, brothers Sheikh Kamal,
Sheikh Jamal, and Sheikh Russel and other martyrs of August 15 were
laid to eternal rest.

   The Prime Minister placed wreaths and spread flower petals on their graves.

   She also offered Fateha and prayed for eternal peace of the
departed souls of the martyrs of August 15.

  Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges
Minister Obaidul Quader along with senior party leaders paid glowing
tributes to Bangabandhu by placing wreaths at his portrait after the
premier left the premises of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum.

  Awami League Presidium Members Begum Matia Chowdhury, Dr Abdur
Razzaque, Shajahan Khan, Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Abdur Rahman, Joint
General Secretary and Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan
Mahmud, Joint General Secretaries Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Dr Dipu Moni
and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Organizing Secretaries Ahmed Hossain, Abu
Saeed Al Mahmud Swapan, Mirza Azam, SM Kamal Hossain and Advocate
Afjal Hossain, Liberation Affairs Secretary Mrinal Kanti Das, Cultural
Affairs Secretary Ashim Kumar Ukil, Publicity Secretary Dr Abdus
Sobhan Golap, Science and Technology Affairs Secretary Engineer Abdus
Sabur, Forest and Environment Secretary Delwar Hossain and Office
Secretary Biplab Barua, among others, were present.

   Dhaka city north and south units of AL, Krishak League, Mohila
Awami League, Jubo League, Jatiya Sramik League, Jubo Mahila League,
Swechchhasebak League, Bangladesh Chhatra League, Tanti League,
Bangabandhu Awami Ainjibi Parishad, Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad,
Dhaka University, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University,
Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Jagannath University,
University Grants Commission, National University, Open University,
Mohammad Nasim Foundation, Sammilita Sangskritik Jote, Ekattorer
Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, Sector Commanders Forum, Bangamata
Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Parishad, Bangla Academy, National Museum,
Bangladesh Betar, Bangabandhu Parishad, Bangabandhu Sangskiritk Jote,
Sheikh Russel Shishu Sangsad, Amra Muktijoddhar Santan, different
political, social and cultural organizations as well as the people
from all strata paid homage to Bangabandhu by placing wreaths at his
portrait .

   Dhaka North and South City Corporation, different ministries,
state-run banks, governmental and non-government institutions and
organizations also placed wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu.

  President M Abdul Hamid today offered doa at Durbar Hall of the
Bangabhaban after Asr prayers marking the National Mourning Day and
the 46th martyrdom anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

   A special munajat was offered on the occasion seeking eternal peace
of the departed souls of Bangabandhu and his family members who
embraced martyrdom on the fateful August 15 in 1975.

  Besides, doa was also offered seeking overall development and
progress of the country and the nation at the tough time of COVID-19
pandemic.

   The President's family members, secretaries concerned to the
Presidential palace, civil and military officials and employees
attended the milad-mahfil and doa-munajat.

  Bangabhaban Jame Masjid Pesh Imam Maulana Muhammad Saiful Kabir
conducted the munajat.

  Besides, different political, social and cultural organizations also
paid homage to Bangabandhu by placing wreaths at his mausoleum at
Tungipara in Gopalganj.

  On behalf of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, homage was paid to Father
of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Tungipara in
Gopalganj.

   On behalf of the premier, her Military Secretary Major General
Naqib Ahmed Chowdhury paid tributes to Bangabandhu by placing a wreath
at his shrine there.

On this occasion, a smartly-turned-out contingent drawn from three
services gave a guard of honor.

        PM's military secretary offered fateha and joined a special
munajat seeking eternal peace of Bangabandhu and other martyrs of the
August 15 carnage.

   Later, the Awami League (AL) leaders, led by AL Presidium Member
Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Muhammad Faruk Khan, paid homage to
Bangabandhu on behalf of the central Awami League.

   AL Central Working Committee Member Abul Hasnat Abdullah, MP,
Foreign Minister Dr A K Abdul Momen, Presidium Members Jahangir Kabir
Nanak and Shahjahan Khan, MP, Joint General Secretaries Mahbubul-Alam
Hanif and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Organizing Secretaries Abu Sayeed Al
Mahmud Swapan, MP, SM Kamal Hossain, Mirza Azam, MP, and Advocate
Afjal Hossain, Deputy Office Secretary Sayem Khan, Central Working
Committee Members Advocate Md Amirul Alam Milon, MP, Advocate Riazul
Kabir Kawser, Anisur Rahman, Sahabuddin Faraji, Iqbal Hossain Apu, MP,
Azizus Samad Azad Don and Sayed Abdul Awal Shamim were present.

   On behalf of the district administration, police administration,
district Awami League and its allied organizations, rich tributes were
paid to Bangabandhu at the altar of Bangabandhu Mausoleum.

   Later, the Bangabandhu Samadhi Soudha Complex was opened so that
all people could pay rich tributes to Bangabandhu by maintaining
social distancing.

  Milad and doa-mahfil were also held at the Samadhi Soudha Complex
Mosque marking the 46th martyrdom anniversary of Bangabandhu and the
National Mourning Day.

  Marking the day, national and party flags were kept at half mast and
black flags were hoisted at all offices of the AL across the country
including Bangabandhu Bhaban and party's central office.

  Special munajat was offered at all mosques across the country after
Johr prayers while special prayers were arranged at all temples,
churches, pagodas and other places of worship at convenient time.

  Jatiya Press Club, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ),
Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) and different other organizations
paid homage to Bangabandhu by placing wreaths at the portrait of
Bangabandhu on the premises of Jatiya Press Club. Foods were
distributed among poor and distressed people in front of AL's
Bangabandhu Avenue central office and across the country as well.

  Free medical services were provided among poor patients at public
and private hospitals across the country marking the day.

  Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television aired special programmes
in observance of the National Mourning day.

  National newspapers and magazines published special supplements on
the occasion.

   Poster publication, its distribution and screening of documentary
films on Bangabandhu were arranged while necessary measures were taken
to put posters of National Mourning Day in important places including
educational institutions or growth centers and those were publicized
through LED display board at different public places.

  Posts and Telecommunication Division sent SMS by Bangladesh
Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to all mobile users
describing the significance of the National Mourning Day.

  Discussions, poetry recitation, composition, painting competition,
painting exhibition, hamd-naat and doa-mahfil on National Mourning Day
were arranged in all public and private primary schools, higher
secondary schools, madrasahs, colleges, medical colleges and other
educational institutions including universities.

  In line with the national programmes, different ministries and
divisions, departments and agencies including the Ministry of
Information and Broadcasting, the Ministry of Primary and Mass
Education, the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Ministry of
Liberation War Affairs, the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs,
the Ministry of Social Welfare, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and
Medical Education And Family Welfare Division organized various
programmes at their respective institutions, maintaining the social
distancing and health guidelines.

  In accordance with the national programmes, district and upazila
administrations also drew up their respective programmes, including
discussions and doa mahfils, marking the National Mourning Day
maintaining the social distancing.

  Bangladesh missions abroad also arranged different programme to
observe the day with due respect.