BM Shamim, Tungipara (Gopalganj) 

August 15, marks the martyrdom  anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. On this day in 1975, he was brutally assassinated. It has been 50 years since that most heinous and barbaric killing in history, which took place at Bangabandhu’s residence at 32 Dhanmondi.

Along with  Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, his wife Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib, his three sons Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal, and the youngest Sheikh Russel, daughters-in-law Sultana Kamal and Rozi Jamal, his only brother Sheikh Abu Naser, Colonel Jamil (who rushed to save him after receiving a phone call from Bangabandhu), SB officer Siddiqur Rahman, and army member Syed Mahbubul Haque were also killed on the night of August 15, 1975.

After many political ups and downs, when the Awami League came to power in 2009, during its nearly 15 and a half years in office, the party observed August 15 as National Mourning Day and organized month-long programs around it and the August 21 grenade attack anniversary. On August 15, tributes were paid to Bangabandhu’s portrait at Dhanmondi 32 and to his grave in Tungipara, along with various other programs.

However, this year the picture is completely different. Last year, a student–public uprising toppled the 15-year rule of the Sheikh Hasina government. In the changed circumstances, August 15 is no longer a public holiday — this holiday was abolished last year.

Although in previous years, National Mourning Day programmes  in Tungipara  included tributes at Bangabandhu’s Mausoleum and other programs, this year there is no party-organized event at the mausoleum. Everywhere in Tungipara remains as quiet as on any ordinary day. However, law enforcement agencies are maintaining a vigilant watch to prevent any kind of violence or untoward incident. Security has been tightened at Bangabandhu’s mausoleum complex and other important areas of Tungipara.