National Mourning Day (Bangladesh)
Remembering 1975 killing of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
National Mourning Day of Bangladesh is a commemorative and former public holiday in Bangladesh.[1] Before 2024, on 15 August of every year, the day is observed with mourning.[2][3] The day was also observed officially and nationally during the government led by Awami League.[4][5]
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| National Mourning Day | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Observed by | Bangladesh |
| Liturgical color | Black |
| Significance | To honour the people died during Assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman |
| Date | 15 August |
| First time | 15 August 1976 15 August 1996 (Officially) |
| Last time | 15 August 2023 (Officially) |
History
Summarize
Perspective
On 15 August 1975, the first president of independent Bangladesh and the "father of the nation" who was also called "Bangabandhu"(meaning friend of Bangla) Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was killed by a group of army personnel, along with his family at his house in Dhanmondi in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka. Besides him, his wife Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib was killed that day. 16 more people were killed along with their family members and relatives.[6]
In 1996,[7] Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's daughter, bypassed her parliament and promulgated the national day of remembrance by decree. The ordinance was later ratified by her parliament in a bill.[8] When the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) came to power in 2001, they reversed the bill. Awami League (AL) stalwarts continued to observe the anniversary, but without government recognition. In 2008, the caretaker government reintroduced the holiday.[7] Sociologist Hasanuzzaman Chowdhury wrote that Khaleda Zia, leader of the BNP and former prime minister, shifted the observance of her birthday to 15 August to defy the AL and mock the commemoration.[9]
On 13 August 2024, the interim government of Muhammad Yunus lastly cancelled the holiday[10] and its observation[11] following consultations with various political parties.[12] Prior to that, student organisations that had spearheaded the 2024 Bangladesh quota reform movement and the 2024 Non-cooperation movement that toppled Sheikh Hasina from power had criticised the event as having become "a political and cultural symbol of Awami League".[13]
Activities
The government had made it obligatory for schools and other public institutions to observe the holiday, and granted universities funds to organize events on the day.[7]
Government officials and Awami League supporters commemorated the day by laying wreaths, making speeches, and attending special prayers. Anthropologist Mascha Schultz has described a striking absence of the general public, those not involved in politics or compelled to attend, from commemoration events.[14]
References
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