The nation is mourning the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Sunday, amid louder calls for executing the court verdict on his fugitive killers and realizing the leader’s dream of a prosperous and progressive Bangladesh.

With the government leaders reaffirming their vow to execute the apex-court verdict on the rest of the assassins, the National Mourning Day is being observed on the 35th anniversary of Bangabandhu’s demise.

The day is a public holiday.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated at his house at Dhanmondi in a military putsch on August 15, 1975, along with most members of his family.

The predawn attacks left a total of 24 people dead. Bangabandhu`s two daughters -- Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana -- could escape the bloodbath as they were abroad at the time.

The victims also include Bangabandhu`s wife Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib, sons Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and nine-year-old Sheikh Russell, daughters-in-law Sultana Kamal and Parveen Jamal, brother Sheikh Naser, nephew Sheikh Fazlul Huq Moni and his wife Begum Arju Moni, brother-in-law Abdur Rab Serniabat, 13-year-old Baby Serniabat, Serniabat`s son Arif and four-year-old grandson Babu, three guests, Bangabandhu`s four domestic helps, and his security chief Col Jamil Uddin Ahmed.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman united the Bengalis to get rid of Pakistani oppression and steered them towards independence. His rousing speech on March 7, 1971 before a crowd of lakhs helped the then East Pakistan ready to sacrifice everything for freedom.

The government chalked out nationwide programmes to mark the day. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, one of the two surviving daughters of Bangabandhu, visited her father`s grave at Tungipara Sunday.

Along with ruling Awami League (AL), different political parties, and student and socio-cultural organizations also planned programmes to mourn for the architect of the country`s independence and most of his family members.

The ruling party has been carrying out its month-long programmes from August 1 to mark the day.

President Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also the ruling Awami League president, placed wreaths at Mujib’s portrait at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in the morning.

Later, Hasina flew to Tungipara and offered prayers at his gravesite, along with the members of the party working committee, advisory council and the cabinet.

President Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in their messages expressed their resolve that the court verdict would be fully executed by bringing back the fugitives from abroad.

The president said, “Now we should bring the death-sentenced fugitives back to the country in order to execute the verdict.”
    
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, also said, “We have freed the nation from the stigma to some extent through executing the verdict of the Bangabandhu-killing case. Steps have been taken to bring back the remaining convicts.”

The national and the party flags were lowered half-mast and black flags hoisted at Awami League offices across the country at 6:30am. The party held special prayers at 7:30am at Banani graveyard where most slain members of the Mujib family were buried.
   
Special prayers were held in all mosques, temples, churches and other religious institutions for salvation of the departed souls of Mujib and his family members.

Destitute-feeding programmes were taken up in observance of the day across the country.
   
The ruling party leaders also placed wreaths at Mujib’s portrait at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at 7:00am and at the graves in the Banani graveyard at 7:30am. The Mahila Awami League held a special prayer session at Bangabandhu Bhaban at 11am.
   
The Awami League will hold a discussion at the Bangabandhu International Convention Centre on August 16. Party chief Sheikh Hasina is expected to be present at the programme.

Meanwhile, the members of the Awami League central working committee, advisory council and cabinet paid homage to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman placing wreath at his tomb at Tungipara Saturday.

Speaking after the tribute-paying ceremonies, party general secretary and LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam hoped that the verdict of the Bangabandhu murder case would be executed fully by bringing back the remaining fugitives.

“The government is trying through foreign missions, international courts and the Interpol in this regard,” he added.

Five of the condemned Bangabandhu killers-- Lt Col Syed Farooq-ur Rahman, Lt Col Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan, Lt Col Muhiuddin Ahmed, Maj AKM Mahiuddin Ahmed, and Maj Bazlul Huda--were executed on January 28 this year following the apex-court verdict affirming the death sentence against the former army officers. Another condemned convict, Aziz Pasha, died earlier.

The six fugitives from the death sentence are Shariful Haque Dalim, AKM Mahiuddin, Rashed Chowdhury, Nur Chowdhury, Abdul Mazed and Moslemuddin.

BDST: 1351HRS, AUG 15, 2010