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Bangladesh group in NMI to remember Mujibur Rahman
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Posted on Aug 14 2005
The Bangladesh Awami League Community (CNMI) will be hosting a prayer this Friday, Aug. 19, at the Garapan mosque and the FinaSisu mosque to commemorate the 30th death anniversary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, considered the father of the nation, who was killed on Aug. 15 1975 in a military coup.
When Pakistan achieved independence in 1947, Bangladesh (then called East Bengal and called East Pakistan after 1955) became an eastern province of Pakistan, from which it is separated by more than one thousand miles. A movement for greater autonomy was spearheaded by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Awami League, which had been founded in 1949 to pursue the political interests of East Pakistan.
In 1970 the League won a majority in the federal Pakistani assembly, but the government postponed assembly sessions. As a result, on March 26, 1971 the Awami League declared the province independent as Bangladesh. Civil war ensued, and an estimated one million Bengalis died before India intervened on Bangladesh’s behalf and defeated Pakistan in December 1971.
The country’s initial government formed in 1972 under Mujibur Rahman, who became prime minister. In 1974 floods devastated the country, political disorder increased and a national state of emergency was declared. In 1975 Mujibur Rahman was killed in a military coup.
Awami League member Kabir Hossain said the prayer scheduled this Friday intends to honor the memory of Mujibur Rahman as the father of Bangladesh.
Hossain said they would like to invite members of the community to join them in praying for the departed soul of Mujibur Rahman. (PR)
