Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa’s 90th birth anniversary being observed

Desk Report: The 90th birth anniversary of Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, wife of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, is being observed across the country on Saturday.

Born on August 8 in 1930 at Tungipara village in Gopalganj, she was killed brutally by the assassins of Father of the Nation on August 15 in 1975.

The Women and Children Affairs Ministry has taken elaborate programs to observe Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib’s birth anniversary nationally. This year’s theme of the day is — “Bangamata is courageous symbol of sacrifice and beauty.”

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, eldest daughter of Sheikh Fazilatunnesa, is expected to join the birthday celebration program on a virtual platform from her official residence, Ganabhaban, as the chief guest.

Awami League Presidium member Matia Chowdhury will present the keynote paper at the program.

State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Fazilatun Nessa Indira will chair the birth anniversary celebration program at Bangladesh Shishu Academy auditorium.

On the Bangamata’s birthday, the ministry will distribute sewing machines and money in cash through the mobile banking to the distressed women who already have been affected due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Under the program, a total of 3,200 sewing machines and Tk26 lakh — Tk 2,000 each — will be given among 1,300 distressed women as per the enrolment of the beneficiaries provided by deputy commissioners (DCs) of 64 districts.

At the same time, 100 laptops will be given among the poor meritorious students in Gopalganj district.

The financial grant will be transferred formally to the mobile numbers of the beneficiaries by the prime minister through the electronic system.

On behalf of the prime minister, the DC of Gopalganj will hand over the sewing machines and laptops among the beneficiaries.

To mark the birth anniversary, the subordinate organizations and agencies under the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs will hold discussions in coordination with all the district administration.

In addition to this, live documentaries will be screened and souvenir will be published based on the glorious working life of Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib. Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and other electronic media will broadcast special programs on the occasion.

Awami League, which Sheikh Hasina heads, and different social and cultural organizations have taken various program to observe the day.

Of the Awami League programs, recitation from the holy Quran, milad and doa-mahfil will be held following rich tributes to Bangamata’s grave at Banani.

The ruling party and its Dhaka City north and Dhaka City south units will participate in the program.

To mark the birth anniversary, Bangladesh Krishak League will organize a discussion and doa mahfil at the Awami League central office at Bangabandhu Avenue at 12pm Saturday. Information Minister and the party’s Joint General Secretary Hasan Mahmud will attend the program as the chief guest.

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, urged all leaders and activists of the party and its associate bodies to observe Sheikh Fazilatunnesa’s birth anniversary in a befitting manner.

President, PM recall Bangamata’s role in nation building

Meanwhile, President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid glowing tributes to Sheikh Fazilatunnesa, saying her ideology would always remain as a source of inspiration for Bangalee women.

In separate messages issued on Friday on the eve of the birth anniversary, they said Bangamata had played a pivotal role in building the nation staying beside Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

“Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib is a pride of the Bangalee nation and a source of inspiration for womenfolk. She became Bangamata because of her sacrifice, compassion, cooperation and prudence,” said Hamid in his message.

He said Bangamata, who had courageous and indomitable characteristics since her childhood, used to face any situation with her intellect and prudence.

Staying beside her husband, the president said, Bangamata faced the difficult days with firmness during Bangabandhu’s frequent imprisonments.

“Bangabandhu had to go to jail for many times for the sake of the country. Bangamata had to run Bangabandhu’s cases, gave directives and extended cooperation to organizational activities of the party side by side looking after her family,” he said.

He said Sheikh Fazilatunnesa was not only the wife of father of the nation but also one of the pioneers of the Bangalee’s struggle for freedom.

Abdul Hamid said Bangamata had also a significant role from behind the scene in Bangabandhu’s historic March 7 speech.

With her inspiration, the unwritten speech Bangabandhu had delivered emitting from his heart was the call for independence, he added.

The president said her contribution to the history of struggle for independence and the Liberation War would be ever remembered.

In her message, Prime Minister Hasina said Bangamata played a unique role in bringing motivation, strength and courage for Bangabandhu to guide the struggle of independence and Liberation War towards its right direction side by side carrying out family responsibilities.

She said the theme of the 90th birth anniversary is reflected the true sense of the Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib’s life and works.

Her mother was a constant associate and inspiration of Bangabandhu in his political, social and family life, Hasina added. Bangamata had a remarkable role behind the political success of Bangabandhu, she said.

The prime minister said Bangamata was an adept and genuine associate of Bangabandhu in his struggle to realize the rights of the Bangalee nation and the struggle for independence.

She recalled that during the Liberation War in 1971, Bangamata had faced the situation with patience, courage and wisdom when her husband remained imprisoned in Pakistan.

Hasina said after the independence, Bangamata devoted herself to rebuild the war-ravaged country. She stood beside the violated, repressed and self-sacrificing women and sisters by ensuring their treatment, sympathizing and extending cooperation to them and took initiative to make them socially established.

She said the nation has genuinely bestowed Bangamata title on Fazilatunnesa Mujib because of her unparalleled sacrifice, cooperation and prudence.

The prime minister said the ideology and examples Bangamata had set will remain as a source of inspiration for the Bangalee women throughout the ages.

She hoped the new generation will be imbued with patriotism through the practice of life and works of Sheikh Fazilatunnesa and could learn many unknown chapters of the Liberation War, struggle for independence and Bangabandhu’s life and struggles.