National mourning day at Auckland, New Zealand
31st death anniversary of the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was observed with proper respect and deep grief as "National Mourning Day" at Auckland, New Zealand on 19th August 2006 by the Bangabandhu Parishad New Zealand Branch and paid deep homage to the memory of great leader who led the Bangalee nation to the long-awaited independence in 1971. The mourning meeting was presided over by Engr Shafiqur Rahman Anu, President, Bangabandhu Parishad New Zealand branch and was nicely conducted by Dr. Engr. Nazrul Islam, General Secretary Bangabandhu Parishad New Zealand branch at the residence of the president.
The grateful Bangalee of Auckland as a mark of profound respect for the great leader and for seeking kind blessing of the Almighty Allah for the eternal peace and divine blessings of the souls of Bangabandhu and his family and all others who were martyred on that black day of Bangladesh - special prayer in all religious belief and a discussion meeting on his revolutionary life were held.
Engr Shafiqur Rahman Anu, President, said Bangabandhu's contribution in our independence struggle is second to none. He also vowed that there is no denying the facts that Bangabandhu is the founder of Bangladesh and was the supreme leader of the nation's glorious struggle for independence since 1948. He leaded us to freedom, to self-respect, to dignity and the incomparable joy of getting an independent country for ourselves and generation to come. That is why Bangabandhu must be respected, honoured, and loved, and it is for that reason alone the day of his brutal assassination should be observed as our "National Mourning Day".
Dr. Engr. Nazrul Islam, General Secretary said that Bangalee achieved independence under the uncompromising and fearless leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Bangabandhu was the unanimous leader of our historic struggle for autonomy, independence and the War of Liberation. The process of moving the country backward that started with the killing of Bangabandhu in 1975 is still in place. Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the members of his family embraced martyrdom through killings by the heinous assassins by a group of disgruntled, scheming and misadventures army officers on that fateful night in 1975 and it was a decisive point in the history of the new state, Bangladesh.
Other speakers were Dr. Taposh Barua, Dr. Parveen, Mr. Md. Kabir Ahmed, Mrs. Rupashree Choudhury Dr Yamin Anis, Mrs Wahida Papapu, Dr. Abul Kashem, Engr. Jasimuddin, Dr. Prodeep, Engr Kaiumuz Zaman, Mrs Mahbuba Aziz Khan, Dr. Mahubub Ul Awal.
Speakers said non-execution of the court verdict is an evil design of the present government. They said we are an ungrateful nation seemingly with more ungrateful people at the helm of state affairs. Otherwise we would not have observed the National Mourning Day on 15th August will go without any official programme of solemn observance. It is most unfortunate that the saddest day of in the history of Bangladesh, the killing of the nation's architect goes off without paying him due respect and tribute. Present government at the very outset jumped to detracting the great leader Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by stripping him of the title 'Father of the Nation' through enacting law and by pulling down his portrait from the deserved position and also by suppressing in books of our children the truth about many of the sagas of his political struggle leading to the creation of Bangladesh. These are not glorious job at all, rather sullying our history and image to the outside world. The name of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib is inseparably connected with the history of the creation of independent and sovereign Bangladesh. Bangabandhu's contributions are the immutable facts of history and cannot and should not be distorted or tailored to fit any party or group's political design. Leaders should be judged by history and not by the political power of the day. Bangabandhu belongs to history. He was a leader with unique charisma and remarkable courage. He is the man who united us to fight for our rights and to resist the Pakistani army attack. There cannot be any controversy over the fact that we are what we are today, i.e. proud citizens of an independent state, largely because of him. Bangabandhu's speech in Bangla at the United Nations was a glorious event for the Bangla speaking people in the world. They also insisted restoration of the constitution of 1972. In the end it was repeated by all that let the National Mourning Day renews our resolve to objectively analyse Bangabandhu's life and works, and present them in totality to the generations to come. The speakers and audience of the meeting demanded:
- Immediate execution of the verdict of Bangabandhu killing case
- Reinstatement of the public holiday on August 15 as the National Mourning Day
- Identification of the patrons and foreign forces that organized and supported assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
- To put Bangabandhu above day-to-day politics and partisanship."
Shafiqur Rahman Anu
President,
Bangabandhu Parishad
New Zealand branch,
NEW ZEALAND
Home 29/08/2006
