Unusual night parade before Bangabandhu’s assassination

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An unusual parade was organised on the night of August 14 in 1975 that continued for over four hours and ended only few hours before killing Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family members.
The parade began at 8 at night on August 14 and continued till 2:30 am on August 15, the darkest night of the country’s history, according to the statement of a public witness (PW) of the brutal murder case of the Father of the Nation.
The witness, who was a member of armed forces, in his deposition stated that generally parade is not held with live ammunitions, but for that parade the army personnel were asked to carry arms and ammunitions.
SDM (Squad Designated Marksman) Bashir gave the directive for the parade where the witness saw Major Farook Rahman, Major Mohiuddin, Major Ahmed Shariful Islam, Lieutenant Kismat, Lieutenant Nazmul Hussain Answer and some other persons in civil dress.
The witness (PW 14 in the Bangabandhu Murder Case), said that he also saw Major Rashid and some other officers of Rashid’s unit while Major Farook ordered them to fall in and told them that they were asked to fall in because of a very urgent task. Thereafter, Farook introduced Major Dalim and Major Shahriar who were also in civil dress.
Major Farook asked the troops to obey their directives and said that the tank commanders would know where the tanks would be deployed. The major also asked the troops to be ready to move within half an hour.
“At about 4 in the morning, Major Farook directed them to move”, the witness said, adding that Farook himself was commanding a tank while Lt Kismat was the commander of another tank.
Major Shariful Hossian directed the witness to go to the radio station, and when they reached at the station at around 4 in the early morning, Hossain ordered the gateman of the radio station to remain where they were.
The witness saw Major Dalim came to the radio station at around 5:30 am in an open jeep fitted with a machine gun and guarded with a sepoy. Dalim had a talk with Hossian before entering the radio station. Hossain then checked the army officers and civilians who came there.
The statement of the witness proved that the troops and the tanks were prepared at the parade ground with arms and ammunitions and at 4 in the morning the tank commanders moved out of the cantonment towards the city.

World leaders recall Bangabandhu as a great visionary statesman

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Leaders of different states, including heads of the government, have remembered the uncompromising and charismatic leadership of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman with ‘deep respect’, calling Mujib a great visionary statesman of international stature.
The world leaders, during their visit to Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in capital’s Dhanmondi area at different times, said Sheikh Mujib was a leader of the masses and he made his supreme sacrifice for the people.
They made their comments in the “Visitors’ Comment Book” at Dhanmondi Bangabandhu Bhaban, where the Father of the Nation and most of his family members were assassinated in an orchestrated conspiracy of reactionary forces and by a section of disgruntled and ambitious army personnel to reverse the reasons and the values of our War of Liberation so they could achieve their vicious ambitions.
Indian President Pranab Mukherjee remembered Bangladesh’s founding President Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as a trailblazer who fought for establishing people’s rights and dignity in one of the most profound struggles for liberation in the twentieth century.
“With utmost respects, I pay homage to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The title of Bangabandhu bestowed on him reflects the extraordinary love that this patriot had for the people of his country,” the Indian President wrote it in the visitors’ comment book after a visit here on March 4 in 2013.
He added: “I salute this great visionary and international statesman, who worked for friendship between the people of our countries. He was a leader of the masses and made the ultimate sacrifice in their service.”
Former President of the Federal Republic of Germany Christian Wulff also called Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman a great statesman, expressing his great esteem for him as “the architect and Father of the Bangladesh nation”.
“This memorial reminds us of a great statesman who fought for the rights and dignity of his people and was steadfastly committed to independence and national unity,” Wuff wrote in the book.
Former Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, who visited the museum on September 7 in 2011, paid homage to Bangabandhu calling him a great visionary and statesman who laid a firm foundation for an independent, strong and proud Bangladesh.
“Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman led his people in their struggle for liberation through his inspired and courageous leadership,” Dr Singh added.
Indian National Congress President Sonia Gandhi visited the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum on July 25 in 2011 as the Chairperson of the National Advisory Council of India.
She put her comment on the visitors’ book saying, “I pay my homage to a visionary leader and statesman Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who demonstrated ‘resolute courage’ in the face of adversity, enduring hardships and indisposition in the quest for freedom.”
She mentioned that Bangabandhu sought to empower his people in many ways and his sacrifice and struggle for the country’s independence and people’s cherished destination would always be honoured forever.
Ms Yingluck Shinawatra, former Prime Minister of Kingdom of Thailand, paid her rich tribute to the memory of the Father of the Nation. She visited the museum on December 22 in 2012.
Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal, India, recalled the contributions of Bangabandhu to uphold the dignity of Bengali language as a mother tongue in the world arena.
Commenting on the visitors’ book of the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, Mamata said he was an inspiration of all freedom-loving people in the sub-continent.
“Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the supreme commander of the Liberation War, architect and founding father of People’s Republic of Bangladesh. I pay deep respect to the memory of the great leader,” she mentioned.
By Abu Syed

President, PM pay homage to Bangabandhu at Tungipara

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17-03-16-President_PM_Tongipara-3#bangabandhu – President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina here this morning paid rich tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the occasion of the 97th birthday of the great leader. The President and the Premier paid the homage by placing wreaths at the mazar of Bangabandhu here. President Abdul Hamid first laid a wreath at the mazar of Bangabandhu followed by the Prime Minister.

After placing the wreaths, they stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memory of the Father of the Nation as the bugle played the last post. A smartly turned out contingent drawn from Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force gave an honour guard on the occasion. Abdul Hamid and Sheikh Hasina offered Fateha and joined a munajat seeking eternal peace of the departed soul of Bangabandhu as well as other martyrs of the August 15 carnage.

Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Awami League Presidium Member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Agriculture Minister Begum Matia Chowdhury, Minister for Public Administration Syed Ashraful Islam, Land Minister Shamsur Rahman Sharif Dilu, AL Presidium Member Kazi Zafarullah, Deputy Speaker Fazley Rabbi Mia, State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroz Chumki, Chief Whip ASM Feroz and AL Organizing Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim were present on the occasion.

Besides, Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam, Chief of Army Staff General Abu Belal Mohammad Shafiul Haque, Chief of Naval Staff Vice-Admiral Nizamuddin Ahmed, Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Abu Esrar, President’s Press Secretary Joynul Abedin, PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim and senior AL leaders and high civil and military officials were present.

Later, the President signed the visitor’s book kept on the mazar premises. Earlier on his arrival on the mazar premises, President Abdul Hamid was received by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and AL Presidium Member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim. Flanked by senior leaders of the party, Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami  League preident, placed another wreath at the mazar of Bangabandhu on behalf of AL.

The Prime Minister flew to Tungipara after placing wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi Road No 32 in the capital. The birthday of Bangabandhu is being observed across the country today as the National Children’s Day.

97th birthday of Bangabandhu observed

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#bangabandhu – The 97th birthday of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the chief architect of an independent and sovereign Bangladesh, has been observed with an elaborate programme today. The nation has also observed Bangabandhu’s birthday as the National Children’s Day. Since re-assumption of state power in 1996, the ruling Awami League has been observing the day as the National Children’s Day.

On this day in 1920, Bangabandhu, the indomitable leader of Bangalee nationhood and the chief architect of an independent Bangladesh, was born in a respectable Muslim family at remotest Tungipara village of Gopalganj sub-division now district.

The Father of the Nation was assassinated along with most of his family members on the fateful night on August 15, 1975 when he was only 55 years old. The programmes of the day included placing of wreaths at the portrait of the Father of the Nation, doa and milad mahfils, offering of specials prayers, discussions, cutting of cakes, marches, cultural shows, book fair, voluntary blood donation camps, medical treatment free of cost, screening of documentary films, painting competitions and distribution of prizes.

The day’s programme started with the hoisting of the national and party flags atop offices of the ruling Awami League, its associate and likeminded bodies and other socio-cultural-professional organisations in the morning. Awami League president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid deep homage to Bangabandhu placing wreaths at his portrait Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi Road-32 at about 7 in the morning.

Later, Sheikh Hasina as the president of ruling Awami League along with party stalwarts placed another wreath there. At that time, Awami League Advisory Council members Amir Hossain Amu and Tofail Ahmed, presidium members Begum Matia Chowdhury, Mohammad Nasim and Obaidul Quader, general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam, joint general secretaries Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif, Dr Dipu Moni and Advocate Jahangir Kabir Nanak were present, among others.

As soon as the Prime Minister left the premises of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, hundreds of leaders and workers of Dhaka City AL, Awami Juba League, Awami Swechchasebak League, Jatiya Sramik League, Krishak League, Mahila AL, Juba Mahila League, Chhatra League and other socio-cultural-professional bodies and people from all walks of life placed wreaths and showered petals there on the occasion. At 10 in the morning, President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina placed wreaths at the Memorial Mausoleum of Bangabandhu at Tungipara in Gopalganj district paying deep respect to the Father of the Nation.

A smartly turned out squad of the three forces presented guard of honour to the President and the Prime Minister. Later, the President and the Prime Minister participated in a munajat session (special prayer) there seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of the martyrs of the August 15, 1975 carnage. Besides, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also participated in the milad and doa mahfil, children’s rally and discussion and inaugurated a book fair and attended a cultural function organised on the premises of Bangabandhu Memorial Mausoleum there.

The Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Information Ministry, Jatiya Grantha Kendro, DFP and the Mass Communication Directorate have taken initiative to hold week-long book fairs and screening documentaries on the life of Bangabandhu and the war of liberation at district and upazila headquarters marking the day. The day was also observed at Bangladesh missions abroad in a befitting manner. The speech of independence of Bangabandhu delivered at the historic Race Course Maidan, renamed as Suhrawardy Udyan was played on mikes throughout the day today.

Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television and other private TV channels and radio stations aired special programmes highlighting the significance of the day in the life of Bangalees. The national dailies published special supplements on the occasion. The day was a public holiday. Milad and doa mahfils have been organised at mosques and prayer sessions at other places of worship across the country seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of Bangabandhu and his family members.

On the occasion of Bangabandhu’s birthday, a special medical service programme was observed at public hospitals and healthcare centres throughout the country from 8 am to 5 pm. Alongside, improved diet was served to the patients and voluntary blood donation camps was organised in public medical colleges. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University observed the day by extending medical treatment service of specialist physicians free of cost and holding a blood donation camp and a painting competition. Later, a discussion and prize giving ceremony was held at Dr Shaheed Milon Hall of the university. Vice-chancellor of the university Prof Dr Quamrul Hasan Khan presided over the discussion in which Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammad Nasim attended as the chief guest and distributed prizes among the winners.

In observance of Bangabandhu’s birthday, leaders and members of the National Press Club paid glowing tributes to Bangabandhu placing wreaths at his mural at its entrance. Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) organised a discussion at the National Press Club. DUJ president Shaban Mahmud chaired the discussion, also addressed, among others, by Prime Minister’s media adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury and BFUJ secretary general Omar Faruque. Bangabandhu Parishad organised a discussion at the VIP lounge of the National Press Club with Awami League Advisory Council member and Parishad general secretary Dr SA Malek in the chair.

Besides, Bangabandhu Shishu-Kishore Mela, Dhaka University, Suhrawardy Medical College, Bangabandhu Gabeshana Parishad, Amra Muktijoddhar Santan, Patuakhali Journalists Forum of Dhaka, Muktijoddha Foundation, the Central Command Council of Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad, Sheikh Russell Jatiya Shishu-Kishore Parishad, Bangabandhu Peshajibi Parishad, Dhaka City College, Dhaka College and other political parties and socio-cultural-professional organisations also observed the day with extensive programmes.

The ruling Awami League will organise a discussion at the city’s Bangabandhu International Conference Centre at 3-30 pm tomorrow (Friday-March 18). Awami League president Sheikh Hasina will chair the discussion.

Our Correspondents from Mymensingh, Manikganj, Chuadanga, Meherpur, Bhahmanbaria, Khulna, Narayanganj, Narsingdi, Noakhali and Nawabganj (Dhaka) districts reported observance of Bangabandhu’s birthday in a befitting manner.

Bangabandhu’s 35 directives to run state affairs in March 71

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#bangabandhu – After the historical 7th March speech that effectively declares the independence of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on March 14 gave a statement to the media with 35 important directives. Tajuddin Ahmad, on behalf of Bangabandhu and Awami League, declared the 35 points instruction for conducting the affairs of the government, which appeared in major newspapers on March 15, 2016.

Regarding the result of the instructions, Banglapedia of the Asiatic Society describes that the direct control of the Pakistan government over East Pakistan was virtually ceased after the directives of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

“In fact, Bangabandhu took the administrative power of Bangladesh (the then East Pakistan) through the 35 directives”, renowned artiste and freedom fighter Ramendu Mujumdar wrote in his book “Bangladesh Amaar Bangladesh (Bangladesh, My Bangladesh).”

The book, a collection of selected speeches and statements of Bangabandhu, includes a separate chapter on the 35 directives, those were given to the newspapers on the eve of the planned Dhaka visit of the Pakistan president Yahiya Khan. Yahiya Khan came to Dhaka on March 15, 1971 to have discussion with Bangabandhu. Prior to his arrival in Dhaka, Tikka Khan, who was the governor and the chief martial law administrator for East Pakistan, issued a martial law order, giving 24-hour deadline for all government employees, who were getting salary from defence budget, to join immediately in their duties. The employees were also threatened that they would lose their jobs or face court martial for failing to follow the order.

The order, however, did not get any response from Bengali employees as they had been following Bangabandhu’s directives in their every steps since the 7th March speech. The subsequent 35 directives, published in different newspapers on March 15, consolidated Bangabandhu’s effective control on the then East Pakistan and on its people.

Professor Rehman Sobhan in his memoir “Untranquil Recollections: The Years of Fulfilment” wrote that Bangladesh was effectively got independence on March 5, the day when the political supremacy came to Bangabandhu’s hand. After that day, whatever Yahiya said, the people in Bangladesh saw those as armed aggression against the sovereignty of the country. On the other hand, people took the 35 directives of Bangabandhu as the must follow command to protest against the oppression of Pakistani ruler and to get freedom from their repression.

The directives were related to all major areas including administration, education, law and order, port operation, foreign trade, communication, agriculture, services, development, industries, flood control, bank and treasury, tax collection, insurance and trade and business and payment of pension for retired employees and salaries of government and semi-government staff and primary school teachers. Recalling the public response to the directives, Ramendu Mujumdar told BSS that with the 7th March speech and the following 35 directives, Bangabandhu became the de-facto president and took effective control of the entire country during the period when the military government of Pakistan had its control only inside cantonments.

Bangabandhu in his directives called for continuing indefinite shutdown, but was very cautious about maintaining law and order and keeping internal and external trade, farm and development activities and all other financial activities unhindered. He kept railways, roads and water transports, port and media and hospitals out of the purview of the non-stop nation-wide strike and advised all concerned to continue their duties.

Banks, telecommunication and postal services were also advised to operate only to provide their services to the people of the then East Pakistan. But, the people involved with power, gas and water supplies had been asked to be on duty so that people don’t suffer.