Bangamata’s 92nd birth anniversary on Monday

The 92nd birth anniversary of Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, wife of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, will be observed on Monday in a befitting manner across the country.

Bangamata was born on August 8 in 1930 at Tungipara village in Gopalganj.

She was killed brutally along with Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members on the fateful night of August 15 in 1975.

Marking the day, the Awami League (AL) has chalked out programmes. Wreaths will be placed at her grave in city’s Banani area at 9am on Monday.

AL’s Dhaka north city unit will distribute food among orphans at Azimpur Orphanage after Zohr prayers.

Besides, AL’s relief and social welfare sub-committee and forest and environment sub-committee, Awami Jubo League and Awami Matsyajibi League will arrange separate discussions.

Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and other electronic media will broadcast special programmes to mark the day.

President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina give separate message on the occasion.

In separate messages, the president and the prime minister said Bangamata is a pride of the Bangalee nation and a source of inspiration for the womenfolk.

They also said that Bangamata had played a pivotal role in building the nation staying beside the Father of the Nation.

“On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, I pay my deep respects to the memory of this majestic woman,” said President Hamid.

On the birth anniversary of Bangamata, the initiative of awarding the ‘Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Padak’ is very commendable, the head of the state added.

He said Bangamata was always used to live a simple life despite being the wife of the president and prime minister.

The eternal image of the Bengali mother can be found in the selfless, philanthropic and humble Mujib-patni (wife of Mujib), he said, adding that she nurtured the ideals of Bangabandhu in her own life and raised her children in the same ideals.

Her worthy daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has also adopted the same education, ideals and spirit to make Bangladesh a wonder of the world, a role model of development today, he added.

On August 15, 1975, she along with her close relatives including her husband, sons and daughter-in-laws, was brutally assassinated by the anti-liberation clique at her residence in Dhanmondi, he mentioned.

“It is a shameful chapter in the history of the nation,” he continued.

He hoped that the young generation will devote themselves to the welfare of the motherland imbued with the ideals of Bangamata.

Bangamata always gave advice and support to Bangabandhu in every movement of the Bangalees, he said.

Abdul Hamid said Bangamata also played a significant role from behind the scene in Bangabandhu’s historic 7th March speech.

With her inspiration, the unwritten speech Bangabandhu had delivered emitting from his heart was the call for independence, he added.

The president said her contribution to the history of struggle for independence and the War of Liberation would be ever remembered.

In her message, PM Hasina said the theme of the 92nd birth anniversary of Fazilatunnesa Mujib is ‘Mohiosi Bangamata er Chetona, Odommo Bangladesh er Prerona’ and which is time-befitting and significant to mark the day.

The dignified woman Fazilatunnesa was a determined and strong character from childhood, she said, adding that she was not only the partner of the Father of the Nation, but actively supported him in every step as a behind-the-scenes artist of the Bangalee’s Sadhikar Andolon and struggle of independence.

During the riots of 1946 before the partition of the country, Bangamata herself set a shining example of patriotism by advising Bangabandhu to help the riot-affected people of Calcutta despite her illness and she has no intention to keep her husband beside her on that time.

Her bold and visionary decision in the Agartala Conspiracy Case saved the lives of all the prisoners (raj-bondi) in the case and gave the movement for freedom more momentum, the premier said.

She made a strong contribution to the 6-point and 11-point movements, she said, adding that Bangamata also played a very important role in delivering the historic March 7 speech of Bangabandhu.

During the War of Liberation in 1971, she faced the situation with endless patience, courage and prudence, despite being under house arrest by the Pakistani occupation forces and facing deep uncertainty and apprehension about her husband imprisoned in Pakistan, Sheikh Hasina continued.

Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardy called her a very precious gift of God to Bangabandhu, she mentioned.

Due to her immense sacrifice and contribution for the country and the nation, the nation gave her the title ‘Bangamata’, she said.

She hoped that through the study of her biography, the new generation will be inspired by patriotism and will know about the struggling life of the father of the nation, the Bangalee’s independence movement, the great liberation war and many unknown chapters of the struggle of independence.

On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Bangamata, both the president and the premier sought eternal peace of her departed soul.

They also wished overall success of all the programmes taken to observe the birth anniversary of Bangamata.

Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader urged all leaders and workers of the party and its associate bodies to observe the Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib’s birth anniversary in a befitting manner.