The nation will observe the National Mourning Day with a heavy heart on Sunday, commemorating the 46th anniversary of the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will lead the nation in paying homage to the Father of the Nation followed by the people of all strata marking the day with due reverence and solemnity.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman – the architect of the country’s independence -- was assassinated along with most of his family members at the dawn of August 15, 1975 by a cabal of army personnel following a deep-rooted conspiracy against the country and its independence.

His two daughters -- Sheikh Hasina, now the prime minister, and Sheikh Rehana -- survived the massacre as they were abroad at that time.  

Eighteen members of the family along with Bangabandhu’s wife Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, three sons -- Captain Sheikh Kamal, Lt Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russell--, two daughters-in-law -- Sultana Kamal and Rosy Jamal --, brother Sheikh Naser, peasant leader Abdur Rob Serniabat, youth leader Sheikh Fazlul Haq Moni and his wife Arzu Moni, Baby Serniabat, Sukanta Babu, Arif and Abdul Nayeem Khan Rintu were killed on the fateful night.  

Bangabandhu’s Military Secretary Col Jamil Uddin Ahmad (Bir Uttam), who was later promoted posthumously to the rank of Brigadier General, was also killed during the massacre. Some members of a family at Mohammadpur in the capital were killed by artillery shells fired by the killers on the same day.  

The day is a public holiday.

The Prime Minister will pay homage to the Father of the Nation by placing wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi Road No 32 in the morning.

Tributes will also be paid to Bangabandhu by placing wreaths at his Mazar at Tungipara in Gopalganj district.

The government, different socio-cultural, political and professional organisations, including ruling Awami League and its associate bodies, will also mark the day with various programmes maintaining social distancing rules due to the prevalence of coronavirus.  

Special munajats will be offered in all mosques across the country while special prayers will be arranged in temples, pagodas, churches and other worship places across the country.  

Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television and private TV channels and radio stations will air special programmes highlighting the life, struggle and achievements of the great leader while newspapers will be publishing special supplements on the occasion.  

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

Bangladesh missions abroad will also observe the day with elaborate programmes.

DMP tightens security

Police are on high alert to ensure the foolproof security ahead of the National Mourning Day, said DMP Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam on Saturday.  

“Though there’s no security threat ahead of August 15, but we can’t rule out any possibility,” said the DMP chief while talking to reporters after checking the overall security at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi 32.   

“August 15 is an important day and the militants may try to carry out subversive activities in the two-km area of the programme venue if they fail to carry out an attack on the location in a bid to draw attention of the international media. But we think no such incident will happen,” he said.