August 15, Bangladesh�s most tragic day

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the gruesome murder of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Father of the Nation and the architect of Bangladesh's freedom. Bangabandhu’s assassination, though apparently looked and assessed as an outcome of outrage of some disgruntled members of the army, actually had the long hand of conspiracy engineered by the enemies of our liberation both home and abroad. This must be counted as the greatest tragedy in the history of Bangladesh.
To the great misfortune of the country for years after Bangabandhu’s murder, Bangladesh was ruled by the same forces sometimes under a civilian guise, sometimes under military dictatorship. Successive rulers tried their utmost to obliterate the memories of Liberation War and efface the name of Bangabandhu from the mind of the public. They sheltered and even rewarded the killers of Bangabandhu and also allowed communal politics to operate freely. Coups, conspiracies, social anarchy and corruption held unhindered sway in the country.
What is truly horrendous is that immediately after the 1975 carnage, the instruments of the state were used to block the entire process of law and justice in its tracks by an Indemnity Ordinance providing immunity from law to a small group of brutal murderers. At a later stage, some of the killers were even permitted to set up a political party and take part in the 1988 presidential election. The day was not even observed officially for two decades until 1996, when the Awami League assumed office and announced the day as the National Mourning Day.
We are happy to observe that steps have been taken to correct the history of Bangladesh's struggle for freedom and the role of Bangabandhu in school textbooks. It is a move that will surely go a long way toward removing the falsehoods that have distorted our history since August 1975.
Despite much delay and many hurdles, this most contemptible killing has been brought to justice. Some of the killers have been hanged, but the rest remain out of reach. The government has failed to take adequate steps to have these killers brought back to the country. Let the absconding killers be brought back and punished.
Today we remember with great respect the stupendous contribution Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman made to the creation of Bangladesh and pay our homage to him. We also recall with a heavy heart the tragedy that befell him and members of his family on this day. We feel that the best way to show him respect is by materialising his dream for a democratic, exploitation-free and non-communal Bangladesh, by building a country where the fundamental spirit of independence is implemented and people of all caste and creed enjoy equal rights. This can be possible by establishing true democracy and the rule of law at all levels.

 

August 15, Bangladesh�s most tragic day

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the gruesome murder of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Father of the Nation and the architect of Bangladeshs freedom. Bangabandhus assassination, though apparently looked and assessed as an outcome of outrage of some disgruntled members of the army, actually had the long hand of conspiracy engineered by the enemies of our liberation both home and abroad. This must be counted as the greatest tragedy in the history of Bangladesh. To the great misfortune of the country for years after Bangabandhus murder, Bangladesh was ruled by the same forces sometimes under a civilian guise, sometimes under military dictatorship. Successive rulers tried their utmost to obliterate the memories of Liberation War and efface the name of Bangabandhu from the mind of the public. They sheltered and even rewarded the killers of Bangabandhu and also allowed communal politics to operate freely. Coups, conspiracies, social anarchy and corruption held unhindered sway in the country. What is truly horrendous is that immediately after the 1975 carnage, the instruments of the state were used to block the entire process of law and justice in its tracks by an Indemnity Ordinance providing immunity from law to a small group of brutal murderers. At a later stage, some of the killers were even permitted to set up a political party and take part in the 1988 presidential election. The day was not even observed officially for two decades until 1996, when the Awami League assumed office and announced the day as the National Mourning Day. We are happy to observe that steps have been taken to correct the history of Bangladeshs struggle for freedom and the role of Bangabandhu in school textbooks. It is a move that will surely go a long way toward removing the falsehoods that have distorted our history since August 1975. Despite much delay and many hurdles, this most contemptible killing has been brought to justice. Some of the killers have been hanged, but the rest remain out of reach. The government has failed to take adequate steps to have these killers brought back to the country. Let the absconding killers be brought back and punished. Today we remember with great respect the stupendous contribution Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman made to the creation of Bangladesh and pay our homage to him. We also recall with a heavy heart the tragedy that befell him and members of his family on this day. We feel that the best way to show him respect is by materialising his dream for a democratic, exploitation-free and non-communal Bangladesh, by building a country where the fundamental spirit of independence is implemented and people of all caste and creed enjoy equal rights. This can be possible by establishing true democracy and the rule of law at all levels.