Brisk preparations are afoot in the port city as elsewhere in the district to observe the National Mourning Day Thursday (August 15) marking the 44th martyrdom anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family members.
People from all strata of life will pay rich tributes to Bangabandhu, architect of the independent Bangladesh, who along with his family members were brutally assassinated on this fateful night of August 15, 1975. Apart from the Chattogram city, north and south district units of Awami League (AL) and their front organisations, scores of socio-cultural and literary organisations, trade unions, district administration, all educational institutions and professional bodies have chalked out elaborate programmes to mark the day, reports BSS.
The nation, however, started observing the month of mourning from August 1, recalling the most brutal killing in its history and renewing the pledge to safeguard perpetually the country's independence and sovereignty. Leaders and workers of AL and its front organisations and professional bodies will wear black badges throughout the day.
The day's programmes include hoisting of the national and black flags at half-mast atop all party offices, placing wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu, Quran khwani, Milad Mahfil, discussion meetings, poetry recitation, essay and quiz competitions on life and activities of Bangabandhu, screening of films, playing of the historic March 7 speeches of Bangabandhu in 41 wards of the city corporation, blood donation and distribution of foods among the destitute people.
The programmes of Chattogram District Administration' include Milad Mahfil, Khatme Quran, special prayers at mosques and discussions on the life and works of Bangabandhu, essay competition and poetry recitation will be held at Shisu Academy and Shilpakala Academy respectively .
Doa, Milad Mahfils and special prayers will be held at different mosques and other places of worships in the city and districts seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of Bangabandhu and his family members.
Government officials, leaders of AL and its associate bodies will place wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu at the Shaheed Minars and observe one- minute silence before bringing out mourning processions in the city and district.
Discussions on the life and works of Bangabandhu will be arranged in educational institutions including schools, colleges, madrasas and milad mahfil and special prayers will also be offered at religious institutions.
In the city, the observance will begin with hoisting of the national flags at half-mast in all government, semi-government, autonomous, private buildings and educational institutions shortly after the dawn.
Later, high officials, political leaders, head of different organisations, institutions and departments and common people will place wreaths at the mural of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the morning with wearing black badges.Chattogram Press Club and Chattogram Union of Journalists will jointly place wreaths tomorrow morning at the mural of Bangabandhu on the press club premises.
The Islamic Foundation will organise programmes including recitation from the Holy Quran, Hamd, Naat and Doa mahfil and a special discussion on the life and works of Bangabandhu.
To mark the day, Chattogram centre of Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar will air special programmes while local dailies will publish special supplements focusing the life and contributions of the great leader of the country's independence movement.