The Awami League on Wednesday accused the interim government, led by Professor Muhammad Yunus, of attempting to erase the history of Bangladesh’s creation by “pressing the reset button.” In a statement posted on its verified Facebook page, the party claimed that the government had cancelled eight national days, including the March 7, which commemorates Bangabandhu’s historic speech that united the Bengali nation during the Liberation War. “They cancelled the National Day of Mourning on August 15, as their actions reflect the ideology of Bangabandhu’s killers,” the party further alleged. AL condemns move to cancel 8 significant national days The Awami League also condemned the cancellation of March 17, which is celebrated as the birthday of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Father of the Nation, and National Children’s Day. The party accused the interim government of not recognizing Sheikh Mujib as the Father of the Nation. Additionally, the party claimed that the Constitution Day of November 4, which embodies the aspirations of the Liberation War, had been scrapped by the interim government. “They even demolished murals and sculptures of Bangabandhu on August 5 because of his role in leading Bangladesh to independence,” the statement added. The Awami League strongly condemned the interim government’s actions, calling them an “audacity” and declaring that the people of Bangladesh are united in their opposition to these “illegal activities.”

The Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi observed National Mourning Day Monday to remember and mourn the brutal assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family on August 15, 1975. The unfinished task of building Sonar Bangla, the dream of Bangabandhu, is being accomplished by his daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, High Commissioner Muhammad Imran said at a discussion. "Bangabandhu always dreamt of hunger and poverty-free Bangladesh. It was the main philosophy of our great leader Bangabandhu," he added. Also read: National Mourning Day observed in Japan The official programme of mourning at the mission began when the national flag was lowered to half-staff. Messages from the president, prime minister, foreign minister and state minister for foreign affairs were read out after Imran laid a wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu. A minute of silence was observed and a special prayer was offered in memory of the martyrs of August 15. Also read: Bangladesh High Commission in Canberra observes National Mourning Day The special publication "Bangabandhu The Legend Forever" was also unveiled and a documentary on the life of Bangabandhu was screened.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud Friday said BNP is trying to set the stage for another "August 15," when Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members were assassinated in 1975. "Also, they want to brand Bangladesh as a terrorist country in the world. But the Bangladesh Awami League (AL) will never let these things happen," he added. Read: Hasan Mahmud dismisses Ganatantra Mancha as out-of-touch, insignificant Hasan, also AL joint general secretary, was addressing a meeting in Mohanpur upazila of Rajshahi. Thursday, at a meeting in Rajshahi city, the AL leader said the ruling party will take control of the streets in September and keep it occupied until the national polls. "At a public rally in Dhaka's Nayapaltan, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today (Thursday) said they will have to take control of the streets," the minister said. "In reply, I would tell my party leaders and activists: August is a month of mourning, which we are observing through different programmes. When the mourning ends, we will occupy the streets in September," he added.

Police have pulled up their socks to mitigate any threat on August 15 – the 47th Martyrdom Anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and National Mourning Day August 15. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed Thursday directed chiefs of all police units to make flawless and foolproof security arrangements for all events during the day. All metropolitan police commissioners, range deputy inspector generals and district superintendents of police participated in the meeting. The IGP asked them to ensure maximum security for the president, the prime minister, other important persons and diplomats during the National Mourning Day events and their movements. Benazir also asked the police officials to keep vigilance on the National Mourning Day events so that no one can create chaos and no rumour can be spread through social media. Read: IGP urges police officials to work for people’s welfare "We have to take adequate precautions and security measures based on intelligence reports about militants and banned militant outfits as well as other terrorists," he added. Also, the IGP directed the officials to strengthen and intensify police patrols and asked beat police officers to ensure their presence physically and vigilance during the National Morning Day events. Additional IGPs Md Mainur Rahman Chowdhury, M Khurshid Hossain; DIG (Operations) Md Hyder Ali Khan and other police officers were present at the meeting.  

The High Court on Sunday issued a rule questioning the government's inactivity in identifying the armed protesters of August 15 killing of Bangabandhu and his family to acknowledge and rehabilitate them. The court asked why the inactivity of the concerned authority will not be announced illegal and questioned why a high level commission should not be formed to acknowledge and rehabilitate the resistance fighters of August 15. The bench of Justice Md KLhasruzzaman,and Justice Md Iqbal Kabir issued the rule during a hearing on a writ petition filed in this regard. Also read: HC issues rule on thalassemia info in NID The court has asked the law secretary, home affairs secretary, liberation war affairs secretary , social welfare secretary, and cultural secretary to respond to the rule within four weeks. Advocate Md Bakir Uddin Bhuiyan along with advocate Md Abu Hanif represented the petitioner while Deputy Attorney General Bipul Bagmar appeared for the state. Advocate Md Bakir Uddin said, after the brutal killing of Bangabandhu and his family members on August 15, 1975, a horrifying situation arose in the country as the then military government banned all kind of rally, meetings. But on that day protests were held against the killing in Mohanganj, Kishoreganj, Narsingdi, Khulna, Jessore, Faridganj in Chandpur and Gafargaon in Mymensingh. Later two armed resistance forces were formed under the leadership of freedom fighter Abdul Kader Siddique ‘Jatiya mukti Bahini’ and ‘ Jatiya Mujib Bahini’ led by Chittagong's freedom fighter ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury,. Then thousands of Bangabandhu devotees, students, young people, joined the forces and engaged in armed rebellion against the ruling government. But in 1977, when Indian 'National Front Government' led by Morarji Desai handed over the members of Jatiya Mukti Bahini and Jatiya Mujib Bahini to BDR in Bangladesh, their lives came down to extreme hardship, imprisonment, oppression and torture. On August 1, a petition was filed in the High Court seeking directions for identifying the armed protesters and giving them national recognition and rehabilitation. Also read: 7 years in condemn cell despite acquittal: HC orders judicial inquiry Anis Khondkar of Netrokona, Saidul Qadir, Yusuf Ali of Sunamganj, Parimal Sarkar and Swapan Chand of Gazipur filed this writ at the High Court.

The rueful month of August is remembered as one of the darkest days in history for the brutal assassination of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family members on August 15, 1975. On that day, the then Director-General of DGFI (Directorate General of Forces Intelligence), Shaheed Brigadier General Jamil Uddin Ahmed, ‘Bir Uttam’, was the only one to sacrifice his life to save Bangabandhu.  Marking the 46th death anniversary of the assassinated martyrs and National Mourning Day 2021, the country’s premier news agency United News of Bangladesh (UNB) recently organized a first-ever video interview featuring seven grandchildren of the brave-heart remembered as ‘Colonel Jamil’: Masud Jamil Khan, Rumessa Mailloux, Jamil Khan, Nahar Khan, Armaan Jamil Hossain, Shaan Jamil Hossain and Zahra Jamil Rahman, together for the first time from home and abroad. The special interview, hosted by noted visual artist Sourav Chowdhury, commemorated the valiant patriot who his grandchildren never met in person due to his heroic sacrifice and untimely departure. The grandchildren also fondly remembered their late grandmother Anjuman Ara Jamil, former Member of Parliament and an iconic entrepreneur in the country. Also read: Brig. General Jamil: A profile in duty and courage   Sourav Chowdhury: Being the eldest grandchild, how do you view your grandfather and honour his legacy? Masud Jamil Khan: Unfortunately, I couldn’t meet my grandfather in person - however, I always receive mass admiration from everywhere as the grandson of Colonel Jamil and my grandmother Anjuman Ara Jamil, a former Member of Parliament representing Kushtia, Meherpur and Chuadanga. She established the Jamil Foundation, empowering local women - which we are proudly continuing as their legacy. As the Deputy Managing Director of the Cosmos Group and also a father of three beautiful daughters, I always feel that the patriotism, sacrifice and dedication of our grandparents have always inspired us to gloriously move with confidence, pride and dignity.  Sourav Chowdhury: Cosmos Foundation has been focused on working towards preserving Bangladesh’s history and culture, namely the works and legacy of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu. Could you tell us about this? Masud Jamil Khan:Through our Cosmos Foundation and its artistic wing Gallery Cosmos, we have been organizing several cultural activities to fulfill our commitment to the society - including special exhibitions, art camps, workshops and more, at home and abroad. We have published special books on the Father of the Nation, namely "Bangabandhu: Epitome of a Nation" and "Brave Heart". Written by Enayetullah Khan, these books are incomparable as these have featured exclusive memoirs of Bangabandhu and also our patriotic grandfather, and I hope we will see further publications in the future."  Sourav Chowdhury: Jamil Khan, you are currently joining us from San Diego California in the US. You are named after your heroic grandfather and you have a lot of similarities too, I hear. Could you tell us about your grandfather? Jamil Khan:We grew up hearing the stories about our brave-heart Nana (grandfather) from my mom, my Nanu (grandmother) and my aunts. Recently, I learned that my Nana Bhai liked photography, and I like photography too - my photography exhibition was held in Dhaka back in December 2004. Nana bhai liked to travel, I like to travel as well. To preserve his legacy, I have plans to feature his heroism through writing and archiving publications, photographs and more. Sourav Chowdhury:Rumessa Mailloux, thank you for joining us from Toronto, Canada. Please tell us about your thoughts and feelings on your grandfather. Also read: Cosmos Foundation and Liberation War Museum sign MoU Rumessa Mailloux: I was born nine years after my Nana’s passing, so we couldn’t meet in person. However, I was blessed to hear the stories regarding how charming, handsome, sincere, charismatic and humble of a person he was. He is the pride of our family and our nation, as he was the only one who sacrificed his life for Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman - the greatest leader and founding father of Bangladesh. His legacy is being continued through his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Three years ago, my son did a project on Nana Bhai and I am so proud he shared his story with his Canadian mates, who were amazed to know about our family history. A true hero lives forever and remains immortal because of the heroic acts, and I hope my Nana and Nanu have reunited peacefully in heaven. 

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said the masterminds behind the August 15 massacre will also be gradually exposed in the near future. “It was very essential to try the killers first. We’ve done it. And it’ll also come out eventually one day who had been behind the killings. And that day is not far,” she said. The prime minister was addressing a memorial meeting arranged by Bangladesh Awami League (AL) marking the National Mourning Day and 46th martyrdom anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Sheikh Hasina, also the AL President, presided over the virtual function joining it from her official residence Ganobhaban, while other participants were connected from AL central office in the city’s Bangabandhu Avenue. She said all of those who took part in the brutal assassination and who stood beside them (killers) or who prepared the ground for it are equally guilty. READ: Mourning Day: PM pays homage to Bangabandhu About the demand for a commission to find out the masterminds of the cruellest mayhem, Sheikh Hasina said things would be very clear to all from the newspapers of those days.  “We will not need to go far to find out them, if we see who criticised (the rule of Bangabandhu), who spoke (against it) and who prepared the ground. You’ve asked for formation of a commission. It is very fine. But if you read the then newspapers, many things would be very clear to all,” she said. Sheikh Hasina, also the eldest daughter of Bangabandhu, said the father of the nation returned home on January 10, 1972, and the conspiracy against him started the same year, not giving him time to rebuild the war-ravaged country. It takes many years to rebuild a war-ravaged country, but criticism started against him just in one year, she said. The PM said the killings were carried out as Bangabandhu could not be detached from the mass people by spreading propaganda against him. “Who had written those? Whom they wanted to satisfy? Who prepared the grounds of the killings?” she said. August 15 carnage can be comparable only with Karbala: Describing the August 15 incident as the most heinous and cruel killing in the history, she said this carnage can be compared only with the Karbala tragedy. Sheikh Hasina said it is usually seen that only the head of the state or the premier of the government is assassinated for the state power.   “Such carnage was carried out in Bangladesh, which can be compared only with Karbala. Women and children had not been killed in Karbara. But women and children were not spared (in the August 15 carnage) in Bangladesh,” she lamented. Noting that the conspirators wanted to exploit and deprive the people of Bangladesh for ever, she said the real revenge of the August 15 carnage would be taken when the people would get a decent life in every front, having food, cloth, shelter, education and health rights as dreamt by the Father of the Nation. She, however, said her government has already done a lot of in ensuring the rights for improving the living standard of the people. “My father had liberated the country. This independence can’t go in vain. It would be a success,” Hasina said adding that the benefit of this success would reach every house even in grassroots area and the people will have improved living standard. At the outset of the event, a one-minute silence was observed in memory of Bangabandhu and martyrs of the August 15 carnage. READ: PM mourns death of AL leader Abdur Rahman AL general secretary Obaidul Quader delivered the welcome speech, while its presidium members Begum Matia Chowdhury, Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Abdur Rahman, joint general secretaries Mahbubul Alam Hanif and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, religious office secretary Advocate Sirajul Mostafa and office secretary Barrister Biplab Barua, among others, spoke at the meeting conducted by its publicity and publication secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has urged all to remain alert about conspirators at home and abroad so that brutal incidents like August 15 can never take place in Bangladesh.  "Conspirators haven't stopped yet," he said, adding that the number of enemies might increase following Bangladesh's economic growth and significant development in other fields.  Dr Momen said all need to get prepared to face the enemies of the country and need to remain alert about negative propaganda against Bangladesh. The Foreign Minister was addressing a webinar ahead of the National Mourning Day as the chief guest. Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University Teachers Association hosted the event on Friday night.  Dr Momen said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been able to work successfully due to realistic Foreign Policy given by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.  He said Bangabandhu had always laid emphasis on establishing peace. READ: ‘Thanks Japan’, Dr Momen says over vaccine supply  The Foreign Minister encouraged the university teachers to do research on Bangabandhu's leadership, ideology and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's prudent leadership and achievements.  The Foreign Minister said Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina is also moving forward taking the people for the development of the country and building a developed and prosperous Bangladesh. The Prime Minister has introduced a culture of peace at the United Nations with the aim of overcoming conflicts and establishing lasting peace, he said.  Dr Momen said no one in the world will be a refugee if lasting peace is established. He mentioned that on the occasion of the recent Golden Jubilee of Independence and the birth centenary of Bangabandhu, the governments and heads of state of different countries of the world have praised the unimaginable success of Bangladesh.  READ: Globalisation poses a challenge for linguistic diversity: Dr Momen  World leaders praised the Prime Minister for her unique human qualities as well as leadership in tackling climate change and women's empowerment, Dr Momen said.  Former Vice Chancellor of Jagannath University Prof Dr Mizanur Rahman was the key speaker while Vice Chancellor of Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University AHM Mustafizur Rahman spoke as a special guest.  READ: Turkish FM to hold talks with Dr Momen to advance ties

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said the names of conspirators behind Bangabandhu’s assassination will come out one day, mentioning that there was a link between Khondaker Mostaq and Ziaur Rahman. "The trial of the killing has been held but the conspiracy has not yet been unearthed. It’ll come out one day for sure," she said.  Read: August 15 Tragedy: Month of Mourning begins The prime minister said this while opening a voluntary blood, plasma donation and food distribution programme arranged by the Bangladesh Krishak League in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi-32.  She inaugurated and addressed the programme virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban. Krishak League arranged the voluntary programme and discussion as part of a month-long programme of Awami League and its associate organizations marking the National Mourning Day commemorating the martyrdom of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Sheikh Hasina, also the chief of ruling Awami League, said her prime task was to put the killers, involved directly, under trial and materialise the dreams of the Father of the Nation regarding the country and its people. Hasina, the eldest daughter of Bangabandhu, said she did not go to the path of digging out who was behind the conspiracy. "My first priority was to change the fate of poor and hungry people, and improve their livelihoods."

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said the August 15 and November 3 killings prove that there was a conspiracy against independence and the people of the country.