On the first day in office President Mohammed Sahabuddin on Tuesday paid  tributes to the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War,  Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 1952 language heroes. He first went to the National Mausoleum at Savar and placed a wreath there  at about 11:40am. for the first time after assuming the office as the 22nd President while he also laid floral  wreath at portrait of Bangabandhu at 12.20pm and Central Shaheed Minar at 12.30pm respectively. A smartly turned out contingent drawn from the Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force presented the state salute on the occasion  as the bugles played the last post. Sahabuddin, himself a heroic freedom fighter,  stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the war heroes. The country was liberated from the Pakistani occupation forces on December 16 in 1971 after a nine-month long Liberation War. Also Read: Mohammed Shahabuddin starts Bangabhaban journey as President The President also signed the visitors' book kept on the monument'sl premises. From Savar the president  went to Bangabandhu Memorial museum at 32 Dhanmondhi and placed a wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu. He also witnessed a holographic presentation on Bangabandhu's historic 7th March speech. He signed the visitors' book kept on the premises. Also Read: BNP has no expectation from new President The president also visited the Central Shaheed Minar where remembered the language martyrs. Earlier in the day he received his maiden ceremonial guard of honour by President Regiment Guard (PGR)  morning at Bangabhaban before leaving for Savar. Also Read: Sweets distributed in Shahabuddin’s home district Pabna after taking oath as president His family members and Bangabhaban officials witnessed the ceremony held at about 10.30am. A smartly turned-out contingent of the PGR presented him a guard of honour as part of the ceremony while a band comprising army, navy, and air force played the welcome tune.  

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina today paid tribute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the occasion of the historic Mujibnagar Day. She paid homage by placing a wreath at Bangabandhu’s portrait in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in Dhanmondi, Dhaka this morning. After laying the wreath, the prime minister stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memory of Bangabandhu, the architect of independence. Flanked by central leaders of Awami League, Sheikh Hasina, also the president of the party, placed another wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu on behalf of AL. On this day in 1971, Bangladesh’s first government in exile was formed at the Baidyanathtala mango orchard in Meherpur, under the then Kushtia district. The place was later renamed Mujibnagar as a tribute to Bangabandhu who had been declared as the president of the government-in-exile. Syed Nazrul Islam was appointed the acting president in the absence of Bangabandhu. Tajuddin Ahmad was appointed the first prime minister, while captain M Mansur Ali and AHM Quamaruzzaman were made cabinet members. The successful leadership of the core cabinet steered the Liberation War to victory on December 16 that year.  

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has paid homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing a floral wreath his portrait  at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi 32 in Dhaka. The Executive Chairman of Tony Blair Institute for Global Change Blair was received at the museum by Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury, MP. Also Read: PM Hasina holds meeting with former British PM Sir Tony Blair Blair had also a tour of the museum and signed the visitors’ book on Saturday.  

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Tuesday paid homage to the 1952 Language Movement martyrs marking Amar Ekushey, the Language Martyrs Day, and the International Mother Language Day. The party’s central leaders led by its standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain reached the Central Shaheed Minar around 12:30 pm after waiting for nearly five hours and placed a wreath at its altar. The leaders and activists of the party gathered in front of Balaka Cinema Hall at Nilkhet at 7:30am wearing black badges. Later, they first offered fateha at the graves of Language Movement martyrs at Azimpur Graveyard. It took around five hours for the BNP leaders to go to the Central Shaheed Minar to pay tributes to the martyrs. Talking to reporters there, Mosharraf alleged that they were subjected to political vengeance as they came to pay homage at the Central Shaheed Minar on the occasion of Language Martyrs Day and International Mother Language Day. "We start moving towards the Shaheed Minar with a procession at dawn from Balaka building at 7:30 am. We had to stand in front of Salimullah Hall for almost five hours to reach the Shaheed Minar,” he said. Read more: BNP chalks out 2-day programme to observe Ekushey February The BNP leader said the names of some organisations have been repeatedly announced through the loudspeakers and they did not leave the altar intentionally as they wasted time unnecessarily. “It is the failure of those who were in charge of administration here. Even today we’re subjected to political vengeance here (at Shaheed Minar). It is very sad. We strongly protest and condemn it. They have deliberately made it happen,” he alleged. BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan, chairperson’s advisers Aman Ullah Aman, Abdus Salam, Habibur Rahman Habib, joint secretaries general Mahbub Uddin Khokon, Khairul Kabir Khokon, Habib-Un-Nabi Khan Sohel, acting office secretary Syed Imran Saleh Prince and publicity affairs secretary Shaheed Uddin Chowdhury Anne were, among others, present there, Earlier on Monday, the party arranged a discussion at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, marking the day. BNP also kept their party and national flags at half-mast and hoisted black flags at its Nayapaltan central office at 6 am in observance of the day. Besides, BNP’s different units across the country also observed the day with due respect amid various programmes. Ekushey February is observed simultaneously as Shaheed Dibas and International Mother Language Day in recognition of the Bengali nation’s supreme sacrifice to the cause of their mother tongue. In 1999, UNESCO declared the 21st of February as the International Mother Language Day.  

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday offered prayers at the mausoleum of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Tungipara. She was accompanied by her sister Sheikh Rehana while offering Fateha and munajat (prayer) seeking eternal peace of departed souls of Bangabandhu and other martyrs of 15 August, 1975 massacre. Read: PM on way to her village home in Tungipara Prayers were also offered seeking divine blessings for good health and long life of Sheikh Hasina and her family members as well as continued peace, progress and prosperity of the country. PM’s Assistant Press Secretary MM Emrul Kayas, who is accompanying the prime minister, confirmed this. Earlier, the prime minister paid tributes to Bangabandhu by placing a wreath at his mausoleum. After laying the wreath, she stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memory of the architect of the independence, who was brutally killed by some disgruntled army men on the dreadful night of 15 August, 1975 along with most of his family members. Family members of the prime minister were also present to pay homage.  The PM reached Tungipara in Gopalganj at 10:10 in the morning by road after crossing the Padma Multipurpose Bridge. Earlier, Sheikh Hasina and her younger sister Sheikh Rehana started for Tungipara from her official residence Ganabhaban at about 7:15am. Read: PM to political parties: Let’s all take part in next parliamentary polls Before crossing the Padma Bridge they both paid tolls. The prime minister opened the country's longest ever self-financed Padma multi-purpose bridge amid nationwide jubilation on June 25. Tungipara is their village home in Gopalganj district where their father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country's founding leader, was buried after his assassination on August 15 in 1975. 

BNP will pay homage to the party's founder and late president Ziaur Rahman on Tuesday on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir along with its senior leaders will place a wreath at Zia’s grave at 11 am, paying homage to him, said party senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. They will also offer fateha and a special munajat there seeking the salvation of Zia’s departed soul, he said. Besides, BNP standing committee members will exchange greetings with Khaleda Zia in her Gulshan residence in the evening. BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia used to offer fateha at Zia’s grave on the occasion of Eids every year until she was sent to jail in 2018. But BNP senior leaders have been observing the programme on Eid day since then in her absence. Khaleda was sent to the Old Dhaka Central Jail as a lower court sentenced her to five years' imprisonment in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8, 2018. Later, she was found guilty in another corruption case the same year. Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government temporarily freed Khaleda Zia from jail through an executive order suspending her sentence on March 25, 2020, with conditions that she will stay in her Gulshan house and will not leave the country. It has since been extended twice. READ: BNP blames govt’s inaction for soybean oil shortage Meanwhile, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has greeted all the Muslims of Bangladesh and elsewhere across the world on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr and wished them ‘Eid Mubarak’. In a message, he hoped that Eid will bring happiness, peace, prosperity and well-being to the country’s people and the Muslim Ummah. Fakhrul bemoaned that the nation is going to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr at a time when their beloved leader and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia has remained under house arrest being subjected to the Awami League government’s political vengeance. He urged the country’s people to pray to the Almighty Allah so that she can lead the nation again getting released from jail and recovering from her illness.

Dr Tahmeed Ahmed, the Executive Director of icddr,b, along with the members of the Senior Leadership Team, visited the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum on Tuesday. They also paid homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the occasion of his birth centenary. The icddr,b team also placed a floral wreath at the portrait of the Father of the Nation, said a press release. During the visit, Dr Tahmeed Ahmed, said, “I recall our colleagues remembering the day when Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman instructed a team of doctors of icddr,b to investigate an unknown outbreak that occurred in Saint Martin’s island in April 1973. “icddr,b is indebted for the compassionate and visionary leadership of the Father of the Nation for entrusting us to fight the severe dysentery outbreak that ravaged the community,” he said. After paying tributes to Bangabandhu, Dr Tahmeed and the team visited the historic residence of Father of the Nation at Dhanmondi Road No. 32, Dhaka. icddr,b Senior Director, Maternal and Child Health Division and member of the National Technical Advisory Committee on Covid-19 Dr Shams El Arifeen, Acting Director, Laboratory Science and Services Division Dr Dinesh Mondal, Director, Human Resources Mr Hugues-Marie Bello; Director, Finance Mr Thomas Liam Barry, Controller, Finance Ms Annrita Muthoni Mugambi and Acting Lead, Research Administration Ms Armana Ahmed were, among others, present during the visit.

Awami League and its associate organisations on Saturday paid tributes to the martyrs of the August 21 grenade attack that left 24 killed and hundreds injured 17 years ago.   Among the dead was Ivy Rahman, the women affairs secretary of Awami League, as hand grenades rained on an anti-terrorism rally addressed by then Opposition leader Sheikh Hasina  at Bangabandhu Avenue. She narrowly escaped the attack. Also read: 17th anniversary of Grenade Attack on AL rally beckons AL leaders and workers gathered at the site of the attack and stood in silence for a few minutes before placing wreaths there in the morning. In observance of the day the ruling party also held a discussion meeting where Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina spoke virtually. Also read: Bangladesh observes 17th anniversary of Dhaka grenade attack

Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on Sunday observed the National Mourning Day in a befitting manner. The day marks the 46th martyrdom anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with 18 other members of his family on August 15, 1975. At the discussion marking the day, High Commissioner Muhammad Imran paid homage to Bangabandhu, the Greatest Bengali of All time. A special publication, ‘Bangabandhu: The Immortal Legend’ was unveiled by the High Commissioner, joined by other officers. A documentary on the life of Bangabandhu was also screened. READ:  BGMEA pays homage to Bangabandhu on National Mourning Day “While we mourn the death of Bangabandhu, we also pledge in this Mujib Borsho to turn the grief of his loss into strength and engage ourselves in building a hunger and poverty free prosperous Bangladesh,” said the High Commissioner. He said they will be able to implement the dream of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman if and only they cherish and nurture his ideals in their heart and soul.  “Now the country is no more neglected, but shown as an example of success in socio-economic development in the world.” The High Commissioner said the unfinished task of building Sonar Bangla, the dream of Bangabandhu, is being accomplished by the leadership of his able daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The days programme began with hoisting of national flag at half mast, by Muhammad Imran, placing floral wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu. It was followed by reading out messages from President Md. Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam. A minute of silence was observed and a Doa was offered in memory of the martyrs of the 15th August. READ:  Mourning Day: PM pays homage to Bangabandhu The programme was attended by Vice Chancellor of Delhi University P.C. Joshi, eminent journalist Gautam Lahiri, Colonel (Retd) Ashok Tara, foreign diplomats, bureaucrats, war veterans and friends of Bangladesh. Minister and HOC of the mission Md. Nural Islam conveyed vote of thanks.

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) on Sunday observed the National Mourning Day-2021 and the 46th martyrdom anniversary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in a solemn manner.  The first part of the programme began in the morning on the premises of Sparrow Apparels where the leaders of BGMEA led by President Faruque Hassan placed wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu.  They also planted trees on the factory premises.  Also read: Bangabandhu’s life, sacrifice being showcased in NYC's Times Square BGMEA Vice President Miran Ali, Directors Asif Ashraf, Tanvir Ahmed, Abdullah Hil Rakib, Haroon Ar Rashid, Rajiv Chowdhury, Barrister Vidiya Amrit Khan, Md. Imranur Rahman, former Member of Parliament and Vice Chairman of Sparrow Group Chayan Islam, Managing Director of Sparrow Group Shovon Islam, and Director of Giant Group Sharmeen Hassan Tithi were also present on the occasion. Later food was distributed among the orphans at Shahabuddin Hafizia Madrasa and Orphanage in Gazipur.  They also took part in prayers seeking forgiveness and peace for Bangabandhu and his family members who were brutally murdered in the dark night of 15 August in 1975.  They also attended and spoke in a discussion organized to mark the day.   Faruque Hassan said the killers of Bangabandhu could not kill his dreams and ideals.  Also read: ‘Want Bangabandhu's killers to be deported to Bangladesh’: FM The “Sonar Bangla” as dreamt by Bangabandhu is now becoming a reality under the prudent and visionary leadership of his daughter, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said the BGMEA chief. “Bangladesh is now a role model in the world in terms of exports, investment, poverty reduction, per capita income and GDP growth. In its journey towards development Bangladesh reached a significant milestone by qualifying to graduate into a developing nation from a Least Developed Country (LDC),” he said. The RMG sector has played a major role in Bangladesh’s economic transformation, export growth and women empowerment to uplift the entire nation, he added. BGMEA President Faruque Hassan said the RMG industry would continue to make contribution in building “Sonar Bangla” as dreamt by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. At the end of the program BGMEA leaders handed over clothing to the persons in charge of managing Kazibari graveyard in the area for burying unidentified bodies.