The 89th birth anniversary of Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib was observed in the city and elsewhere in the country on Thursday with due respect.
Begum Fazilatunnesa, wife of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and mother of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, embraced martyrdom along with Bangabandhu and other family members in a brutal predawn attack by some disgruntled army personnel on August 15 in 1975.
Fazilatunnesa, who played a pivotal role in nation building activities and struggled for an independent Bangladesh staying beside Bangabandhu, was born at Tungipara village of Gopalganj district on August 8 in 1930. The birth anniversary was observed nationally and the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs took different programs marking the anniversary, reports BSS. The ministry organized a discussion marking the anniversary at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC). Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad Shirin Sharmin Choudhury addressed the discussion as the chief guest.
State minister for Women and Children Affairs Fazilatunnesa Indira chaired the discussion while chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on the ministry of women and children affairs Meher Afroz Chumki, Jatiya Mahila Sangstha chairman Prof Momtaj Begum took part in the discussion.
Secretary of the women and children affairs ministry Kamrun Nahar delivered the welcome address. A documentary on Bangamata was screened after the discussion. President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages marking the day. Besides, the ruling Awami League, its associate bodies and other likeminded organizations paid rich tributes to Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib by placing wreaths on her grave at the Banani Graveyard .
The day-long program began at 8:00 am in the morning through placing of wreaths on her grave by Awami League (AL) general secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader and other leaders.
Awami League Presidium Members Matia Chowdhury, Information Minister and AL Publicity and Publication Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud, joint general secretaries Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Abdur Rahman, organizing secretaries AFM Bahauddin Nasim and Enamul Haque Shamim and office secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap, among others, were present.
Leaders and workers of different organizations including AL and its associate bodies also offered Quran Khwani, milad and doa mahfils near the grave seeking divine blessings and eternal peace of the departed soul of Bangamata.
Later, leaders and workers of Awami League North and South City unit, Juba League, Chhatra League, Swechchhasebak League, Jatiya Sramik League, Mahila Awami League, Jubo Mahila League, Krishak League, Tanti League, Bangamata Parishad, Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote and many other organizations also placed wreaths on her grave marking the birth anniversary.
AL Relief and Social Welfare Sub Committee distributed foods, clothes and dengue prevention materials among the orphans, disabled and destitute people marking the birth anniversary of Bangamata at Bangabandhu Bhaban at Dhanmondi road no.32. AL general secretary Obaidul Quader addressed the program as the chief guest.
Awami Swechchhasebak League held a discussion meeting in front of Bangabandhu Bhaban at Dhanmondi road no.32 with it's president Molla Md Abu Kawsar in the chair.
AL advisory committee member Tofail Ahmed attended it as the chief guest while AL organizing secretary AFM Baha Uddin Nasim, Bangladesh Medical Association president Dr Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, SL general secretary Pangkaj Devnath, among others, took part in the discussion.
Marking the anniversary, Awami Jubo League held a discussion at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy auditorium with its chairman Mohammad Omar Faruque Chowdhury in the chair. AL advisory council member Amir Hossain Amu attended it as the chief guest.