DhakaIn a major move, Bangladesh’s caretaker government on Tuesday cancelled the August 15 national holiday, which commemorates the assassination of the country’s founder and ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The decision was approved at an Advisory Council meeting, according to a statement from the Office of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, a day after he met with different political parties, excluding Hasina’s Awami League.
Shortly after Hasina left the country amid widespread unrest, an angry mob set fire to a museum dedicated to Sheikh Mujib, also known as Bangabandhu. The museum was originally Bangbandhu’s private residence, where he was assassinated along with his family members in a military coup organised by a group of junior officers on August 15, 1975.
“The decision to cancel the national holiday on August 15 was taken unanimously after a discussion with the advisory council and political parties,” said a press release sent from the Chief Advisor’s Office. August 15 is observed as the National Mourning Day, commemorating the assassination of Bangabandhu.
Sheikh Hasina’s first statement since her ouster
Hasina, who is currently in India, issued her first statement since being expelled from her country, demanding that those involved in the killings and vandalism that took place across the country during student protests be punished. “I request you to observe the National Day of Mourning on August 15 with due dignity and solemnity. Pray for the salvation of all souls by offering flower garlands and praying at Bangabandhu Bhaban,” the statement said.
She said Bangladesh, which had earned global recognition as a developing country, has now been “reduced to ashes”. “This is a great disgrace to the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, under whose leadership we achieved independence, self-respect and a free country. It is an insult to the blood of millions of martyrs. I demand justice from the people of the country,” she added.
What happened in Bangladesh?
The mass protests in Bangladesh were initially organised to protest against the controversial quota system in government jobs, but soon escalated into a broader agitation against the Awami League government after Hasina’s “razakar” comments and harsh police crackdown on protesters. While the initial protests died down after the Supreme Court lowered the quotas, recent unrest erupted when several students demanded Hasina’s resignation.
A caretaker government was formed after the collapse of the Hasina-led government, and her chief adviser, 84-year-old Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, announced the portfolios of her 16-member council of advisers last week. Several members of Hasina’s rival Bangladesh Nationalist Party met Yunus separately on Monday and said the caretaker government could take its time to create an environment conducive to free and fair elections.
(with contributions from agencies)
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