Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday placed wreaths at the mausoleum of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman paying homage to the great leader to mark the National Mourning Day.
The prime minister placed wreaths twice, first as the head of the government and then as the president of governing Awami League party.
After laying the wreaths, the prime minister stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memory of the architect of Bangladesh’s independence in 1971. Bangabandhu was gunned down by some disgruntled army men on the dreadful night of August 15, 1975 along with most of his family members. August 15 is observed as National Mourning Day.
A smartly turned out contingent drawn from the armed forces presented a gun salute on the occasion, while the bugle played the Last Post in remembrance of Bangabandhu, the greatest Bengali of all time. The prime minister then offered fateha and munajat seeking eternal peace of departed souls of Bangabandhu, his wife Bangamata Begum Fazilatun Nesa Mujib, their three sons and other martyrs of Aug 15 massacre. Prayers were also offered seeking continued peace, progress and prosperity of the nation.
Flanked by senior Awami League leaders, Hasina placed a wreath at the grave of Bangabandhu on behalf of the party. Leaders of different associate bodies of Bangladesh Awami League also placed wreaths at the grave. The prime minister along with Cabinet members, party leaders and workers will also join a milad and doa mahfil on the mausoleum premises marking the National Mourning Day.
Earlier, Sheikh Hasina arrived in Tungipara, the ancestral home of Bangabandhu, by an Air Force helicopter after placing wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu at Dhanmondi 32 in Dhaka as part of the national programme on the day.
The prime minister also went to the Banani graveyard and sprinkled flower petals on the graves of the martyrs of the Aug 15 carnage and offered fateha and joined a munajat there.
