Bangladesh is set to observe its National Mourning Day

Bangladesh is set to observe its National Mourning Day and the 47th martyrdom anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on Monday with due respect and solemnity.

Bangabandhu and most of his family members were brutally killed by some disgruntled army men on August 15, 1975, and this carnage is described as the ugliest chapter of the nation's history.

His two daughters, Sheikh Hasina, now prime minister, and Sheikh Rehana, escaped the planned assassination as they were abroad. The government has drawn up elaborate programs to observe the day at the national level.

The national flag will be hoisted half-mast at all government, semi-government, autonomous and educational institutions, and private buildings, including at the Bangladesh missions abroad.

President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will pay homage to Bangabandhu, the architect of independent Bangladesh, by placing wreaths at his portrait at 6.30am in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi 32 in the capital.A guard of honour will be given by the Armed Forces and prayers will be offered there.

The prime minister will also place wreaths at Banani Graveyard on the graves of the family members of Bangabandhu and other martyrs who were brutally killed on August 15, 1975.

She will also offer Fateha and munajat seeking eternal peace for the departed souls of the martyrs.Special doa and munajat will be offered at mosques across the country including at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque after Zuhr prayers. Special prayers will also be offered at temples, churches, pagodas and other places of worship across the country.

Special supplements will be published in national dailies and periodicals highlighting the importance of the day.

The Department of Films and Publications (DFP) has published posters for distribution across the country. Posters in English have already been dispatched to Bangladesh diplomatic missions abroad.The Mass Communication Department will screen documentary films on the life and works of Bangabandhu across the country. The Press Information Department (PID) will organize a weeklong photo exhibition at the Bangladesh Secretariat. 

Regional information offices under the PID will also arrange photo exhibitions at the divisional level.

Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television will broadcast a special program.

All educational institutions including public and private schools, madrasas, colleges and universities will arrange discussions, poem recitation, essay writing and painting competition, art exhibition, hamd-naat competition and doa mahfil.

In line with the national programs, discussions, doa mahfils and other programs will also be held at district and upazila levels. Government officials must join the events.

All city corporations, municipalities and union parishads of the country will arrange programs to mark the day.

The program of Dhanmondi and Banani in the capital and Tungipara in Gopalganj will be broadcast live by Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television.

Other private television channels, FM radio and community radio will also broadcast the prograe live in association with Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television.

Bangladesh missions abroad will also hoist the national flag half-mast and organize discussions marking the day.

Awami League has also drawn up programs to mark the martyrdom anniversary of Bangabandhu and the National Mourning Day.

National and party flags will be kept at half mast and black flags will be hoisted atop all AL offices across the country including Bangabandhu Bhaban and central office during sunrise.

AL leaders and workers will pay glowing tributes to Bangabandhu by placing wreaths at his portrait on the premises of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi 32 at 6am.

Tributes will also be paid to other martyrs of August 15 by placing wreaths at their graves in Banani graveyard at 8am. Special munajat, offering of Fateha, mazar ziarat and milad mahfil will also be held there.

A delegation of Awami League Central Working Committee, Gopalganj district and Tungipara upazila units of the party will pay homage to Bangabandhu by placing wreaths at his mausoleum in Tungipara of Gopalganj at 12 noon. Fateha offering, milad and doa mahfil will be arranged there.

On Tuesday, a discussion will be arranged at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) on the occasion of the National Mourning Day at 4.30pm. Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will chair it.

Dhaka Tribune