Every 15 August in Bangladesh opens by lamenting over the death of the poet of politics Bangabandhu sheikh Mujibur Rahman, father of the nation and also the architect of independent Bangladesh. To a great extent with bleeding hearts, we as a nation pay profound tribute to the country’s first founding president to observe his 45th martyrdom anniversary and the national mourning day with due respect.
The session of paying tribute starts with placing wreaths on his monument. The recitation from the holy Quran is done and special prayers are also offered for the eternal peace of the departed souls of Bangabandhu and his martyred family members.
From the Language Movement to the Liberation War, he led the Bengali people for their emancipation during the topsy-turvy time running the risk of saving the countrymen. He made them united so that they could come out of the shackles of the Pakistani oppression through his six-point movement, confinement, hunger strike, anti-Ayub movement, role of the 1969-70 election campaign for building national identity, fiery speech of 7 March 1971, proclamation of independence on 26 March 1971 paved the way for the independence of Bangladesh.
Bangabandhu thought that independence is the be-all and end-all for the countrymen to get rid of the Pakistani oppression. As a result, he had to face hundreds of thousands of conspiracies. As a part those conspiracies in the early hours of 15 August 1975, a group of soldiers went into his residence and assassinated him as a part of their evil coup. Thus, on that tragic night we lost the charismatic leader, the architect of independent Bangladesh. That’s why, the entire nation plunged into utter despair and was taken aback by the sudden military attack on him.
Unfortunately, we had to pay a heavy price for that fateful night of 15 August 1975.
Bangabandhu might have been killed physically but his soul is immortal and is shimmering within our hearts like the never ending expansion of river under the sun. He didn’t fear death to get the nation free from the Pakistani occupied forces. Not only he but also his family members were brutally killed except Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana.
With heavy hearts, we mourn the tragic death of Bangabandhu and his family members and pray for the supreme salvation of their departed souls. As long as the Bengali nation exists, Bangabandhu will exist within the hearts of Bengali people forever.
Writer: Md. Ripon Ali
Lecturer of English
Rabindra Maitree University, Kushtia
