Bangla remembers Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

{image-mujibur rehman_15082008.jpg news.oneindia.in}Dhaka, Aug 15: Bangladesh on Friday, Aug 15 mourned the assassination of the country's founding-father 'Banglabandhu' Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as thousands of people wearing black badges placed wreaths and offered prayer at his grave at Tungipara, about 200 kms from the city. The government declared Friday, Aug 15 as National Mourning Day. The National flag was hoisted half-mast as a mark of respect to the departed leader, who was assassinated at his historic Dhanmondi 32 residence on August 15, 1975 by a group of disgruntled army officers. Col. (retd) Farooq Rahman and Col .(retd) Abdur Rashid had led the putsch that also overthrew the Mujib government.

Banglabandhu's two daughters - Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana - survived the bloodbath as they were in Germany on that black night. During the Awami League rule (196-2001), the killers of Sheikh Mujib were tried. The trial ended in death sentences of the assassins.

However, the sentences are yet to be executed. On August 07, 2007, the Mujib murder-case hearing resumed in a higher court after six years.

The incumbent caretaker government recognised the National Mourning Day and Public Holiday on August 15 following a High Court judgment.

The previous BNP-led alliance government had cancelled the mourning day introduced by the Awami League government in 1996.

President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed and Chief Advisor Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed placed wreaths at Sheikh Mujib's mazar at Tungipara and offered prayer this morning.

Sheikh Mujib led the Bangladesh's war of independence against Pakistan in 1971 and gained freedom after nine months' bloody war.

He was also the first President of Bangladesh.

UNI