The New Nation - Internet Edition

TODAY is the National Mourning Day. The nation is observing the day in a befitting manner to pay glowing tribute to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the undisputed leader of independent Bangladesh. On this fateful day in 1975, Sheikh Mujib, the then President of the country under one-party rule, was assassinated along with most of his family members in a military coup. We deeply mourn the death of the great leader and pay deep respect to him.

Following a recent verdict of the High Court, the government decided to observe the day at the state level. On this day the national flag will fly at half-mast on government and non-government buildings and Bangladesh missions abroad. The day has again been made a public holiday. The Awami League government had issued an order in August 1996 declaring August 15 as the National Mourning Day. Later, a cabinet division notification during the BNP rule on August 3, 2002 cancelled the observance of the day. A High Court verdict late last month rescinded the said notification and ordered observance of the day as the National Mourning Day.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman fought for democracy and people's rights throughout his life. It is due to his relentless struggles that the people accepted him as their leader. None wanted his illustrious life to come to an abrupt end. The death of Bangabandhu was not the last of its kind. The short history of Bangladesh saw repetition of similar tragedies. The nation is deeply shocked that the legacy of blood in Bangladesh politics is yet to come to a complete halt, as the main rivals in political arena have not come to a state of mutual tolerance of each other. People do not want this situation to continue. They expect people of all shades of opinion to operate in a harmonious and peaceful manner.