Bangladesh High Commission in Islamabad observed the National Mourning Daytoday on 15 August 2018 to commemorate the 43rd martyrdom anniversary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in a befitting manner with due solemnity and passion.
Anelaborate program was chalked out to observe the day for paying tribute to the indelible memory of the Father of the Nation.Members of expatriate Bangladesh community, officials and staff of the High Commission participated in the day-long programme arranged at the Chancery premises of the High Commission. Mourning day posters were displayed at the Chancery premises and the participants wore black badges.
In the morning, High Commissioner Tarik Ahsan ceremonially hoisted the national flag at half-mast in presence of all officials of the High Commission and some members of Bangladesh community. A photographic exhibition on this occasion was arranged at the Chancery premises. High Commissioner Tarik Ahsan inaugurated the event. A good number of photographs of the victims of 15 August carnage including Bangabandhu and his family members were displayed in the exhibition which evoked keen interest from the guests and participants.
In the afternoon session, one complete recital of the Holy Quran and prayers were held in the Chancery premises by eleven students (Hafiz) of a local madrasah. It was dedicated to the peace and forgiveness for the departed souls of Bangabandhu, members of his family and others who embraced martyrdom on 15 August 1975.
In the evening, a commemorative session on the life and philosophy of the Father of the Nation was arranged. It began with the placing of floral wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu. One minute silence was also observed and it was followed by reading out messages of President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and State Minister for Foreign Affairs.
In an open discussion, the speakers highlighted the unmatched qualitiesof the great leader and his singular contribution to Bangladesh’s independence. They condemned the barbaric act of assassination of the Father of the Nation along with his family members on 15 August 1975.
In his speech, the High Commissioner paid homage to memory of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and members of his family and staff who were martyred in the black night of 15 August 1975. He viewed that the conspirators did not just kill the person Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman but also tried to annihilate the spirit of War of Liberation. He said that, following the killing, the country took an ideological about-turn on a reactionary path; however, Bangladesh eventually came back to the fold of civilized world by bringing the killers to the ambit of justice and ending the culture of impunity. He continued that, under the leadership of Bangabandhu’s daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the country has been making impressive strides not only in establishing rule of law and constitutionality, but also in attaining socio-economic development. He called upon the audience to be imbued with the qualities of Bangabandhu’s– patriotism, humanity and confidence – to achieve his vision of Golden Bangla that will be a prosperous and inclusive country.
The discussion was followed by a segment of recitation from poems on Bangabandhu and specialmunajat for the salvation and eternal peace of the souls of Bangabandhu and the martyred members of his family.Later,a video-documentary on the 15 August carnage was screened. The programme was rounded off with a dinner.