President, PM pay homage to Bangabandhu

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing wreaths at the portrait of the great leader in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi road No. 32 this morning, marking National Mourning Day.

On this day in 1975, Bangabandhu and most of his family members were killed in this house by a cabal of army officers as part of a long-running conspiracy by anti-liberation forces.

The day is officially observed as the National Mourning Day.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina received the president as he arrived at Dhanmondi Road No 32. As part of the state programmes, the president and the prime minister placed wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu at 6:30am.

After the placing of the wreaths, a smartly turned out contingent of Bangladesh Armed Forces gave a state salute as bugle played the last post.

The president and the prime minister, also the eldest daughter of the Father of the Nation, stood in solemn silence in front of the portrait for some time.

Later, a munajat was offered seeking eternal peace of Bangabandhu and martyrs of August 15.

Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury, Chief Justice SK Sinha, Deputy Leader of House Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Bangabandhu's youngest daughter Sheikh Rehana, cabinet members, PM's advisers, parliament members, cabinet secretary, chiefs of the three services, senior leaders of Awami League and 14-Party Alliance as well as senior government officials were present on the occasion.

Flanked by senior party leaders, Sheikh Hasina, also the President of Awami League, placed another wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu.

Later, the prime minister along with her younger sister Sheikh Rehana went to Banani Graveyard in the city and paid homage to her mother Bangamata Fazilatunnesa Mujib, her brothers Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russell and other martyrs of the August 15 by placing wreaths and showering flower petals at their graves.

She also offered fateha seeking the eternal peace of the departed souls of the martyrs of the 15th August carnage.