August, the month when Bangladesh lost its founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975, began today (Sunday) in a sombre mood.
A cable of army officers killed the Father of the Nation along with most of his family members on August 15, 1975.
Every year, the ruling Awami League and its associate bodies chalk out month-long programmes on the occasion but this year will be different because of the coronavirus outbreak.
Awami Swechchasebak League on Saturday midnight observed the month of National Mourning Day with a torch procession on Dhaka streets marching towards Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in Dhanmondi.
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Different political and socio-cultural organisations have also chalked out month-long programmes on the occasion.
This year, the nation will observe National Mourning Day and the 44th anniversary of the martyrdom of Bangabandhu.
Bangladesh Awami Jubo league will distribute the relief to the helpless people and needy people considering the corona situation as part of its month-long programme in the city while Krishak League will also launch blood donation programmes centrally at Bangabandhu Avenue on the day.
On August 5, marking the birth anniversary of freedom fighter Shaheed Sheikh Kamal, wreaths will be placed at his portrait on the premises of Abahani Club at Dhanmondi at 8:30am while wreaths will be laid at his grave at Banani Graveyard at 9:15am.
On August 8, wreaths will be placed at her grave at Banani Graveyard at 9:00am to observe the birth anniversary of Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib.
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On August 15, marking the martyrdom anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and National Mourning Day, homage will be paid to Bangabandhu by placing wreaths at his portrait in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi Road No. 32 at 8:30 am.
Homage will also be paid to other August 15 martyrs by laying wreaths at their graves at Banani Graveyard at 9:15am on that day.
An AL delegation will pay tributes to the Father of the Nation by placing wreaths at his mausoleum at Tungipara in Gopalganj at 11:00am on the day while special prayers will be arranged at all mosques, temples, churches, pagodas and other places of worship across the country to observe the National Mourning Day.
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Besides, a discussion will be arranged marking National Mourning Day at 3:30pm on August 16 at Bangabandhu Avenue on August 17, while Dhaka city south units of AL will organise a discussion commemorating the countrywide series of bomb attacks that took place on the day in 2005.
Bangabandhu’s family members -- Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib, sons Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russell, daughters-in-law Sultana Kamal and Rosy Jamal, Bangabandhu’s brother Sheikh Naser, brother-in-law Abdur Rab Serniabad, nephew and eminent journalist Sheikh Fazlul Huq Moni, his pregnant wife Arzoo Moni and military secretary Colonel Jamil were killed on the fateful night of August 15, 1975. Bangabandhu’s daughters Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana escaped the assassination as they were in Germany.