40- day- long program for 40th anniversary of martyrdom of Father of the Nation

The ruling Awami League announced a 40-day-long programme to commemorate the 40th anniversary of martyrdom of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to mark the National Mourning Day.

A statement of Awami League (AL) said that the party, its associate, likeminded and friendly bodies will organise programmes from the early hours of August 1 to September 9.

The programmes of the month of mourning will be initiated with a candle light vigil (march of lights) towards Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi in the capital at one minute past zero hours on August 1.

At 12-o-clock on that day, leaders of AL Central Working Committee, Advisory Council, district units and associate and likeminded bodies will lay wreaths at the mausoleum of Bangabandhu at Tungipara, offer doa and take part in munajat there. At 4 in the afternoon, Bangladesh Krishak League will organise a blood donation camp followed by a discussion on the premises of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in the city. AL president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will attend the programme as the chief guest.

The programmes of the National mourning Day on August 15 include lowering of the national and party flags at half-mast and hoisting of black flags at Bangabandhu Bhaban, party's central office and its offices across the country at dawn, placing of wreaths at the portrait of Father of the Nation at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi at 6-45 am and at the graves of the martyrs of August 15 carnage at Banani at 7-30 am, offering of fateha, munajat and milad mahfil there.

An identical programme will be observed at the grave of Bangabandhu at Tungipara at 10 am while doa and milad mahfils will be organised at mosques after Zohr prayers and special prayers will be offered at all the places of worships including temples, pagodas and churches and distribution of cooked food among the less fortunate and poor people while Mahila Awami League will organise a doa and milad mahfil at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum after Asr prayers.

Awami League will organise a discussion at the city's Bangabandhu
International Conference Centre at 3 pm on August 16. AL presidium member and Deputy Leader of the House Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury will chair the discussion to be attended by AL president Sheikh Hasina as the chief guest.

On August 5, the birthday of Shaheed Sheikh Kamal will be observed by placing wreaths on his portrait on Abahani Club premises at Dhanmondi at 8 am and at his Banani grave at 9 am while doa and milad mahfils will also be organised at both the places. At about 11 am on the day, Awami Swechchasebak League will organise a discussion, doa and milad mahfil on the premises of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in the city.

The birthday of Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnessa Mujib will be obverted on August 8 by placing wreaths at her Banani grave and holding of Quran Khwani, milad and doa mahfil at 8-30 am there, Mahila AL will organise a milad mahfil at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum after Johr prayers while a discussion, doa and milad mahfil also will be held at AL central office at Bangabandhu Avenue after asr prayers. Discussions will be held under the aegis of Awami Juba League and Chhatra League on August 8 and August 9 respectively to mark the
day.

In observance of the anniversary of the August 21 grenade attack
(carnage), wreaths will be placed at the temporary memorial of the martyrs in front of AL central office at Bangabandhu Avenue at 4 pm that will be followed by discussion and milad and doa mahfil. Awai Juba League and Juba Mahila League will organise discussions to mark the day.

As part of the 40-day programme, eminent artistes of the country will present their creative works on canvases at a function titled "Pathos in colours and brushes" at the city's Bangabandhu Bhaban from 10 am to 5 pm on August 12.

Besides, Tanti League will organise discussion on August 3 and 4, Dhaka South City Corporation on August 4, Awami Swechchasebak League on August 11, Juba Mahila League on August 13, Dhaka City AL on August 17 and 30 (or on September 9), Jatiya Sramik League on August 18, Bangabandhu Krishibid Parishad on August 20, Bangladesh Krishak League on August 22, Awami Ainjibi Parishad on August 24 and September 3, Mahila Sramik League on August 25, Swadhinata Chikitshak Parishad on August 26, Chhatra League on August 31 and September 8 and Juba Mahila League on September 7.

In a statement, AL general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam called upon units of the party, associate and likeminded bodies to observe the 40th anniversary of martyrdom of Bangabandhu in a befitting manner following the party programmes.