New Delhi: Sheikh Hasina, the leader of the Awami League, broke her silence on Tuesday by urging everyone to observe August 15 as ‘National Mourning Day.’ Hasina resigned as prime minister of Bangladesh on August 5 at the height of violence over a quota-related issue and fled to India.
It is important to recall, as part of a coup d’état, a squad of Bangladesh Army personnel raided Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s Dhanmondi 32 apartment in the early hours of August 15, 1975, killing him and most of his family members. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the father of Sheikh Hasina. He was the founding father and first president of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh’s interim government declared that Thursday, August 15, would be no national holiday, accompanied by an appeal made on behalf of Hasina by her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy. This move was perceived as a move to diminish the nation’s long-standing history.
Recalling the carnage that followed the Liberation War in 1971, Hasina wrote: “Brothers and Sisters, on August 15, 1975, the President of Bangladesh, the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was brutally assassinated. Along with him, my mother, Begum Fazilatunnesa, my three brothers, Freedom Fighter Captain Sheikh Kamal, Freedom Fighter Lieutenant Sheikh Jamal, their newly-wed wives, and my youngest brother, who was only 10 years old, Sheikh Russel, were also mercilessly killed. My only uncle, Freedom Fighter Sheikh Nasser, the President’s Military Secretary Brigadier Jamil Uddin, and Police Officer Siddiqur Rahman were also brutally murdered.”
Speaking about the turmoil and pandemonium that shook Bangladesh, Hasina stated: “Since July, due to sabotage, arson, terror, and violence in the name of movements, many innocent lives have been lost. Students, teachers, police officers, even pregnant women, journalists, cultural workers, professionals, leaders and workers of Awami League and allied organisations, pedestrians, and others have lost their lives in the face of terrorist aggression. I express my condolences to them and pray for the salvation of their souls.”
Further, she said, “To those who, like me, are living with the pain of losing their loved ones, I offer my heartfelt sympathy. I demand that those involved in these murders and acts of sabotage be identified through proper investigation and brought to justice.”
expressing sorrow for the August 5 ransacking of the PM House, which prompted her to leave for India, Hasina said: “Dhanmondi’s Bangabandhu Bhavan, where the horrific massacre took place, the house that bore this memory, was dedicated to the people by my sister and me. A memorial museum was established. People from all walks of life, including distinguished guests from home and abroad, visited this house. This museum carried the memories of our Independence.”
Elaborating, she added, “It is extremely painful to say that while keeping these memories in our hearts, bearing the grief and sorrow of losing our loved ones, we have been serving you, the dear people of this country, with the aim of bringing smiles to the faces of the distressed people of Bangladesh. The positive results of our efforts have started to show. Bangladesh has been recognised as a developing country on the world stage. But now, all of this has been reduced to ashes.”
Notably, a number of images and videos purporting to show the PM House being ransacked also circulated on social media after the events started on August 5.
“The very memories that have been our support for survival have been burnt to ashes. The highest level of disrespect has been shown to the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, under whose leadership we gained Independence, our self-respect, and our identity as a free nation. The blood of millions of martyrs has been dishonoured. I seek justice from the people of this nation,” Hasina said.
At the conclusion of her speech, she asked Bangladeshis to observe August 15 as National Mourning Day.
“I urge you to observe the National Mourning Day on August 15 with due honour and solemnity. Please offer floral tributes at Bangabandhu Bhavan and pray for the salvation of the departed souls. May Almighty Allah bless the people of Bangladesh. Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu,” Hasina concluded.
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–IANS
