Father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 16 other members of his family were killed in a military coup on the night of August 15, 1975
 
The month of mourning for the nation to recall the brutal assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members begins today.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 16 other members of his family were killed in a military coup on the night of August 15, 1975. The deceased include Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib, sons Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russell, daughters-in-law Sultana Kamal and Rosy Jamal, Bangabandhu’s brother Sheikh Naser, brother-in-law Abdur Rab Serniabat, nephew and eminent journalist Sheikh Fazlul Huq Moni, his pregnant wife Arzoo Moni and then military secretary Colonel Jamil.

Two of Bangabandhu’s daughters, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana, escaped the assassination as they were visiting Germany at that time.

August is also marred by another black chapter in Bangladesh’s history. On August 21, 2004, then opposition leader and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina survived a grenade attack on an anti-terrorism rally at Bangabandhu Avenue.

As in the previous years, various political and socio-cultural organizations, including the ruling Awami League and its associate bodies, have chalked out programs throughout the month.

Awami Swechchasebak League (ASL) will start the month-long mourning program by bringing out a torch procession in the city streets, marching towards Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi, in the early hours today, ASL General Secretary Pankaj Devnath said on Wednesday.

At dawn on August 15, the national and party flags will be kept at half-mast and black flags will be hoisted at all Awami League offices across the country.

Deshsangbad/Alo