In tears, in prayers

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her sister Sheikh Rehana stood in solemn silence in front of the Tungipara tomb of the Father of the Nation on the day their family was massacred 40 years ago.

As the sisters placed wreaths at the grave of their father, prayers were being offered seeking salvation of the departed soul.

The two surviving daughters of the nation's founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman could not hold back their tears.

Bangabandhu along with most of his family members were brutally murdered by a section of politically ambitious military clique and the two sisters survived as they were abroad then.  

Earlier as dawn broke in the capital, President Abdul Hamid and the prime minister paid tribute to the Father of the Nation at the memorial plaque of Bangabandhu on Dhanmondi-32. A contingent of the Armed Forces gave a state salute and the Last Post was played on the bugle.

The two sisters then went to the Banani Graveyard where other murdered members of their family were laid to rest.

They then flew to Tungipara to pay tribute to their father.

After returning to the capital from Tungipara in the afternoon, Hasina and Rehana spent a couple of hours in their former home on Dhanmondi-32, which witnessed one of the world's most brutal political killings in history and now named Bangabandhu Memorial Museum.

In solemn silence they sat at the staircase where the leader was killed. The two sisters, who were away in Germany during that fateful August of 1975, spread rose petals there.

Later, Hasina recited from the Holy Quran at a room of the house. Rehana and Hasina's daughter Saima Wazed Putul were beside her.

The pavement of Dhanmondi-32 was overlaid with wreaths and bouquets, as thousands of mourners, wearing black badges and carrying black flags, paid their tribute to Bangabandhu.

They started to gather there and the adjacent areas since early morning and waited until the president and prime minister paid their respects and other ceremonies were completed.

Placing their flowers, they demanded that the fugitive killers of Bangabandhu be brought back to the country and punished.

The ruling party observed the day with a vow to not create any situation that could harm the prime minister and the Awami League, like in 1975.

Later, special prayers were offered seeking eternal peace for Bangabandhu and the other martyrs.

A milad mehfil was also held at the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban.

State-run Bangladesh Betar, BTV and other TV channels broadcast special programmes while newspapers brought out special supplements highlighting the life, struggle and achievements of Bangabandhu.

The national flag was hoisted at half-mast and there were black flags atop all public buildings yesterday.

The AL and its associated bodies distributed food among the destitute across the country. Bangabandhu's speeches and patriotic songs were played on loudspeakers.

Black billboards, banners and posters were placed in the capital and other major cities, districts and upazila headquarters with slogans on Bangabandhu.

Placing wreaths at the Banani Graveyard, AL General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said death sentences would surely be carried out after bringing back the fugitive killers of the Father of the Nation.

"The government is trying its best to extradite the fugitive killers of Bangabandhu. The process will continue … none of the killers will be spared," he added.

Ashraf, also the public administration minister, called upon the party activists across the country to remain alert and prevent the recurrence of such heinous act that stunned people 0n August 15, 1975.

“A situation was created for killing Bangabandhu that helped the killers ... Party leaders and activists should not create any situation that could harm Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League," said Ashraf.

Recalling the day, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, grandson of Bangabandhu, on his Facebook page wrote, "No one is more familiar with murder and loss than my family. It wasn't just one person who was murdered. The killers did not even spare my uncle's wives, one of whom was pregnant, and children. They shot a 10 year old boy, my uncle Russell, in cold blood. These people were monsters."

An all-religion prayer meeting organised by Sangbadik Samaj was held seeking salvation of the departed souls of Bangabandhu and his family members at the Jatiya Press Club.

Mahanagar Sarbojaneen Puja Committee also offered special prayers.