DHAKA, May 17, 2024 (BSS) - The 44th homecoming day of Awami League President
and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was observed today.

On May 17 in 1981, she returned to the country after a long exile.

Boarding on an aircraft of the Indian Airlines, Awami League President Sheikh
Hasina reached the then Kurmitola Airport here from the Indian capital of New
Delhi via Kolkata at 4.30pm on that day.

Marking the homecoming day of Sheikh Hasina, the ruling Awami League (AL)
chalked out elaborate programmes.

As part of the programmes, the party leaders greeted Sheikh Hasina, the
eldest daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, at
her Ganabhaban residence here at 9 am.

Leaders and workers of AL associate and like-minded bodies also greeted her
with bouquet.

A discussion was held at Dhaka District AL Bhaban in the city's Tejgaon area
this afternoon with AL Presidium Member Engineer Mosharraf Hossain in the
chair.

AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader and other central leaders also addressed
the discussion.

Marking the day, Jubo League, Chhatra League, Krishak League, Swechchhasebak
League, Mohila Awami League and Jubo Mohila League and other like-minded
bodies also organized different programmes.

The programmes included discussion, doa and milad mahfil seeking sound health
and long life of Sheikh Hasina, food distribution among orphans and destitute
people.

AL's relief and social welfare subcommittee also organised food distribution
programme marking the day.

Foods were distributed among the orphans of Azimpur Salimullah Muslim
Orphanage, Salimullah Road's orphanage in Mohammadpur, Sobhanbag Masjid
adjacent orphanage and Rahim Ullah Orphanage at Beraid in Badda.

Foods were also distributed among the orphans of the orphanages adjacent to
Hazrat Shahjalal (R) Mazar (shrine) in Sylhet, Hazrat Shah Amanat (R) Mazar
and Garib Ullah Shah (R) Mazar in Chattogram.
 
Special doa and prayers were also offered at mosques, temples, churches and
pagodas marking the day. Doa was offered at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque
after Jummah prayers.

Christian Community held special prayer at Mirpur Baptist Church at 9 am
while Buddhist Community at International Buddhist Monastery in the city's
Merul Badda at 10 am and Hindu Community at Dhakeshwari National Temple at
11.30 am.

Marking the day, Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud will distribute food among
the inmates of Chattogram's Kadam Mobarak Orphanage tomorrow (Saturday).

Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was brutally killed
along with most of his family members on August 15 in 1975 and his two
daughters-- Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana --- luckily escaped the brutal
assassination as they stayed abroad.

In a national council session of the Awami League on February 14, 15 and 16
in 1981, Sheikh Hasina was elected as party president in her absence and then
she returned to the country on May 17.

A large number of people had gathered outside the Kurmitola Airport in Dhaka
to receive Sheikh Hasina on that day. They had come from every corner of the
country and the whole thoroughfare from the Farmgate point to Kurmitola in
the city was full of jubilant crowds.

After a long hovering over the airport, an aircraft of Indian Airlines
carrying Sheikh Hasina from New Delhi via Kolkata, touched the runway at 4:30
pm.

"I have returned to the country not to become a leader of the Awami League,
rather to participate in the struggle for freedom by staying beside the
people," said the AL president in a heart touching reception awarded by
nearly 1.5 million people at the airport at that time.
 
She added: "I want to stay beside you as your sister, as your daughter, and
as a worker of Awami League, who believes in the ideals of Bangabandhu."