DHAKA, Aug 1, 2022 (BSS) - The first day of mourning month was passed amid various programmes including candlelight vigil and placing of wreaths at the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

With holding different programme across the month of August, the nation every year recalls the brutal assassination of Bangabandhu and most of his family members on the black night of August 15, 1975 which is the darkest chapter of the country's history.

A candlelight procession marked the start of the month-long mourning programme at one-minute past zero hours on Monday when mourners staged a street march with candles in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi, the then residence of Bangabandhu and the scene of the black night 47 years ago.

Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) and Awami Swechchhasebak League leaders and workers brought out the candlelight procession while Mahila Awami League also staged candlelight vigil joined by Awami League (AL) Joint General Secretary Dr Dipu Moni.

Swechchhasebak League acting president Gazi Mejbaul Hossain Sachchu and general secretary AKM Afzalur Rahman Babu, Chhatra League President Al Nahean Khan Joy and Lekhak Bhattacharjee led the procession of respective organizations.

Leaders and workers of Dhaka University (DU) unit, Dhaka city north and south units of BCL also joined the programme. 
 
Leaders and workers of AL and its associate bodies also attended the programme.

They also laid wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu on the premises of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum.

Chhatra League also staged a candlelight vigil on Dhaka University campus which was joined by the university's Vice-Chancellor Prof Md Akhteruzzaman.

Under the initiative of Krishak League, a voluntary blood and plasma donation programme began on Bangabandhu Bhaban premises this morning.

Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addressed the programme as the chief guest joining it virtually from her official Ganabhaban residence. 

AL Presidium Members Begum Matia Chowdhury and Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Organising Secretary Advocate Afjal Hossain, Agriculture Secretary Faridunnahar Laily and Office Secretary Barrister Biplab Barua were present, among others.

Krishak League president Samir Chanda chaired it the programme moderated by its general secretary Umme Kulsum Smriti.

On the first day, month-long holy Quran recitation began under the initiative of Awami Jubo League.

Foods were distributed among distressed people in front of AL's Bangabandhu Avenue central office. 

Jubo League chairman Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash chaired the inaugural programme of the month of mourning while its general secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil moderated it.

 The August 15 carnage is the ugliest chapter of the nation's history as the self-confessed killers not only assassinate the nation's founding father alone, but also killed 16 other members of his family, friends and relatives.

The nation observes with heavy heart the month of August as the month of mourning to recall the brutal killing on 1975's August 15. 

The August 15 carnage martyrs included Bangabandhu's wife Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, his sons Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russell, daughters-in-law Sultana Kamal and Rosy Jamal, Bangabandhu's brother Sheikh Naser, brother-in-law Abdur Rab Serniabat, nephew and eminent journalist Sheikh Fazlul Huq Moni, Moni's pregnant wife Arzoo Moni and Bangabandhu's military secretary Colonel Jamil. 
 
Bangabandhu's two daughters - incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana - escaped the planned assassination as they were visiting Germany at that time.

The month of August is also black marked with another conspiracy of assassination. The nation cannot ever forget the heinous attempt of killing Sheikh Hasina through grenade attacks in 2004.

The vested quarter, who assassinated Bangabandhu in 1975, also tried to destroy Awami League (AL) by killing its president Sheikh Hasina with grenades on an anti-terrorism rally at Bangabandhu Avenue here on August 21 in 2004.

Sheikh Hasina narrowly escaped the attack suffering splinter injuries when 24 of her party men, including Awami League's women affairs secretary Ivy Rahman, were killed and over 500 others injured.

The month of August also witnessed the nationwide series bombings on August 17, 2005 next year staged by Islamist militants.