Observance of the National Mourning Day 2009
Bangladesh High Commission, Canberra
Press Release issued on 15 August 2009
Observance of the National Mourning Day 2009
Bangladesh High Commission in Canberra observed the National Mourning on 15 August 2009 at the High Commission with due solemnity to pay the tribute to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who embraced martydom along with members of his family on this very day in 1975.
In the morning the National Flag was flown half mast by H.E. the High Commissioner Lieutenant General Masud Uddin Chowdhury where the members of the Mission and the Bangladesh community in Canberra were also present. A special prayer was offered for the salvation and peace of the souls of Bangabandhu and his family members.
Later a discussion meeting on the significance of the day was held at the Conference Room of the Mission presided over by H.E. the High Commissioner on the occasion of the 34th Death Anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. At the beginning of the meeting, the messages given on the day from Hon’ble President and Hon’ble Prime Minister of Bangladesh were read out. In the discussion meeting, many members of the Bangladesh expatriate community as well as the members of the Mission took part where they paid tribute and homage to the Father of the Nation as well as prayed for the peace and salvation of the souls who wee brutally murdered on the day in 1975. They highlighted the rare leadership qualities of Bangabandhu who led the Liberation War of Bangladesh. Bangladesh achieved her independence due to the supreme sacrifice of the people of Bangladesh under the leadership of the Father of the Nation after a ninemonth long struggle, the speakers commented. They demanded the early implementation of the verdict of the High Court against the killers of the Father of the Nation and requested H.E. the High Commissioner to pass this demand to the Government of Bangladesh. Speakers also mentioned about the challenging diplomatic tasks completed by Bangabandhu after returning from the jail in 1972 till his assassination, such as, getting recognition of manycountries, membership with the UN, building relations with India and obtaining membership at the OIC.
In the concluding address H.E. the High Commissioner Lieutenant General Masud Uddin Chowdhury paid tribute to the Father of the Nation as well as prayed for the salvation of the souls of Bangabandhu and members of his family, relatives and those who were killed alongwith him. He mentioned that undoubtedly the incident was a black chapter in the history of Bangladesh. He praised Bangabandhu as the unmatched leader of the Nation in its thousand year history and ‘Bangabandhu can only be compared with Bangabandhu none else’. He also highlighted the fact that what Bangabandhu could achieve during a very short span of time in the face of enormous difficult circumstances of a new born war ravaged country with hardly any resources. Bangabandhu showed his magnanimity and courage to govern the country towards further progress which was stopped by the brutal assassination in 1975, he pointed out. He condemned the barbaric and brutal action and also hoped that the verdict of the High Court of the case in connection with the murder of the Father of the Nation would be implemented as soon as possible. He also expressed that Bangladesh would march towards peace and progress under the leadership of Daughter of the Father of Naton and Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by materialising the Vision 2021 albeit dream of Bangabandhu.
