Today is August 15 — the 50th death anniversary of the Father of the Nation of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. On this day in 1975, Bangabandhu was brutally assassinated along with most members of his family, marking one of the most shameful chapters in the nation’s history.
That night, Bangabandhu, along with his family and close relatives — a total of 26 people — were killed in a barbaric attack. His daughters, Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana, survived only because they were in then West Germany at the time.
On the night of August 15, 1975, at his Dhanmondi residence, Bangabandhu was killed along with his wife Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, sons Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal, and youngest son Sheikh Russel, daughters-in-law Sultana Kamal and Rozi Jamal, and his only brother Sheikh Abu Naser. Also killed were Colonel Jamil, a security officer who rushed to save his life after receiving a call from Bangabandhu, Special Branch officer Siddiqur Rahman, and army personnel Syed Mahbubul Haque.
Armed attackers also raided the home of Bangabandhu’s nephew and Jubo League leader Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni, killing him and his pregnant wife Arzu Moni; and stormed the residence of Bangabandhu’s brother-in-law Abdur Rab Serniabat, killing him, his daughter Baby, son Arif Serniabat, grandson Sukanta Babu, nephew Sajib Serniabat, and relative Rentu Khan.
In 1996, after the Awami League-led government came to power, it was decided for the first time to observe the day as a state mourning day.
When the BNP-led four-party alliance came to power in 2001, that decision was revoked. However, in 2007, the caretaker government reinstated August 15 as the official National Mourning Day. Following the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024, during the July Movement, the current interim government abolished the observance of August 15 as National Mourning Day and removed it from the list of public holidays.
Every year on Mourning Day, the Awami League would pay tribute to Bangabandhu’s portrait at Dhanmondi 32, to his mausoleum in Tungipara, and to the graves of those killed on August 15 at Banani Cemetery. The party also organized special prayers, milad mahfils, and communal meals for the needy at religious institutions.
It should be noted that the interim government of Bangladesh, led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus, has banned all activities of the Bangladesh Awami League, its affiliated, and associated organizations. On Thursday (August 14), the Awami League’s verified Facebook page posted a message of condolence marking August 15.
