Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ever since her ouster has given her public statement on Tuesday, urging the citizens to observe 15th August as National Mourning Day, the fateful day on which her father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and family were killed. She urged the people to place wreaths at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum.
The Interim Government decision:
Hasina’s statement comes after the interim government’s decision to call off the national holiday on 15th August which was approved by the advisory council at Jamuna on Tuesday.
Hasina’s statement:
Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy posted her statement on social media platform known as X (formerly twitter) in Bengali. In her statement she said that violence, vandalism has taken many lives. She also mourned the lives lost to the violence. She also conveyed her condolences to those who are dealing with the pain of losing their loved ones. She also demanded a probe against those who are behind and demanded that they should be punished. She also remembered her father and family who were killed in assassination on 15th August 1975.
Hasina also expressed sadness at the vandalism of the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum which is also known as Bangabandhu Bhaban due to the violence which happened last week. Hasina said that she and her sister in India had dedicated the house of Mujibur to the people of the country.
She said that their survival has been reduced to ashes. She also said that her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who is considered as father of the nation under whom the country gained prominence was humiliated.
She called for justice for his humiliation and she urged the citizens of Bangladesh to remember 15th August as National Mourning day and to place wreaths and to offer prayers at Bangabandhu Bhaban.
Hasina’s call for gathering in Dhaka could lead to another standoff for the interim government which is supported by the Army and student protestors.
Crackdown on Awami leaders:
Hasina’s two key aides Salman F Rahman who was a private industrial affairs advisor and Formal Law Minister Anisul Haq were arrested in a case related which was filed in New Market Police station.
Who was Mujibur Rahman:
Mujibur Rahman who is also known as Bangabandhu was the 1st president of Bangladesh which had gained independence. In 1970 when the general elections were held in Pakistan, Mujibur Rahman had won almost all the seats in East Pakistan which later had become Bangladesh. Even as he was in the forefront of the Bangladesh Independence War in 1971, the Pakistani military arrested him immediately after declaring independence of Bangladesh. He was released in London on 16th December after the Pakistani security forces had surrendered. He then flew to India and then to Bangladesh. He became the Prime Minister of Bangladesh for the period of 3 years.
In the early 1970s, Sheikh Mujib was considered to be a prominent leader who had also spent 12 years in a British Prison under the rule of Pakistan. He also built good relations with many countries while promoting the policy of friendliness and to avoid hostility.
However, on 15th August 1975, Mujibur Rahman was assassinated by a disgruntled group of Bangladeshi Army personnel at his residence in Dhaka.
At the time of attack, Hasina was abroad and was elected to lead the party which was founded by her father.
Bangladesh Violence:
Sheikh Hasina had resigned as PM of Bangladesh on 5th August 2024 due to escalating protests which rocked Dhaka.
