August 15: Day of Mourning in Bangladesh, Know Why

New Delhi: Every year Bangladesh observes August 15 as a day of mourning. On August 15, 1975, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founder of Bangladesh, was assassinated at his home in Dhanmondi.

After his assassination, military dictator Major General Ziaur Rahman took over power in Bangladesh. Present Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is Mujib’s eldest daughter, survived the attack because she was in Germany at that time.

The Dhanmondi House where Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated is now a tourist attraction.

This was the place where Sheikh Mujibar Rahman and his 18 family members, including three sons and a young grandson were assassinated by the military officers.

Among those killed were Mujib, his wife Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib, their three sons Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and minor Sheikh Russel; the newly married brides of Kamal and Jamal Sulatana and Rosy and Bangabandhu’s brother Sheikh Abu Naser.

Mujib’s two daughters, Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana, were in West Germany in August 1975 and so they survived.