Bangabandhu`s 49th death anniversary today

Today is the 49th death anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

At the fateful dawn of 15 August in 1975, a group of disgruntled army officers assassinated the leader along with most of his family members at his Dhanmondi residence.

They include his wife Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib, sons Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russell, daughters-in-law Sultana Kamal and Rosy Jamal, brother Sheikh Naser, brother-in-law Abdur Rab Serniabat, nephew and eminent journalist Sheikh Fazlul Huq Moni, his pregnant wife Arzoo Moni and Colonel Jamil.

Bangabandhu’s two daughters – Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana – survived the carnage as they were outside of the country at that time.

August 15 was officially recognised as National Mourning Day by Sheikh Hasina's Awami League government in 1996, following their rise to power. However, on August 15, the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and left the country following the student movement. Then the interim government canceled the public holiday of August 15.