President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday paid homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as Bangladesh observed the 42nd anniversary of his assassination in a sombre mood.
President Hamid and PM Hasina paid tributes to the architect of the independence by placing wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi Road No
32 in the capital. The day was observed as National Mourning Day.
As part of the state programmes, at first the President and then the Prime Minister laid wreaths separately at the portrait of Bangabandhu.
After placing the wreaths, the President and the Prime Minister stood in solemn silence for some time showing respect to the great leader.
Bangabandhu, his spouse Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, his three sons — Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russell, and most of the family members of three close relatives of Bangabandhu — were killed in cold blood on August 15, 1975 by a cabal of army men.
Two daughters of Bangabandhu — Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana — escaped the carnage as they were abroad at that time.
Sheikh Rehana, the youngest daughter of Bangabandhu, Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Chief Justice SK Sinha, cabinet members, prime minister’s advisers, senior leaders of Awami League and senior government officials were present.
Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and Chief Justice S K Sinha followed the president and the Prime Minister in paying tributes to Bangabandhu.
Later, Sheikh Hasina, also the President of Awami League, flanked by party’s General Secretary Obaidul Quader and senior leaders, placed wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu on behalf of the Awami League.
After paying the tributes to Bangabandhu, the mrime minister along with her sister Sheikh Rehana visited the residence of Bangabandhu at Dhanmondi Road No 32.
Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana stayed for some time in the house which now has been turned into Bangabandhu Memorial Museum.
Later, the Prime Minister went to Banani Graveyard where her mother Bangamata Fazilatunnesa Mujib, Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russell and other martyrs of August 15 were laid to rest. Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana placed floral wreaths and spread petals on their graves.
Later, the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, along with her sister Sheikh Rehana, flew aboard a Bangladesh Air Force chopper to ancestral home of Bangabandhu and paid homage by placing a floral wreath at the grave of the great leader marking the 42nd martyrdom anniversary, which is also the National Mourning Day.
BANGLA
