15 August 1975

15 August 1975

On 25 January country switched over to the presidential system of governance and Bangabandhu took over as President of the republic. On 24 February, Bangladesh Krishak Awami League, comprising all the poliotical parties of the country, was launched. On 25 February, Bangabandhu called upon all parties and leaders to join this national party. He felt the need for making Bangladesh a self-reliant nation by reducing dependence on forign aid. So he overhauled the economic policies to achieve the goal of self-reliance by reducing dependence on foreign aid. So he overhauled the economic policies to achieve the goal of self-relaince. He launched the Second revolution to make independence meaningful and ensure food, clothing, shelter, medicare, education and jobs to the people. The objectives of the revolution were: elimination of corruption, boosting production in mills, factories and fields, population control and established of national unity.

Bangabandhu received an unprecedented response to his call to achieve economic freedom by uniting the entire nation. The economy started picking up rapidly within a short time. Production oncreased. Smugling stoped. The prices of essentiala came down to within parchasing capacity of the common man. Imbued with new hope, the people unitedly marched forward to extend the benefits of independence to every doorstep. But that condition did not last long.

In the pre-dawn hours of August 15 the noblest and the greatest of Bangalees in a thousand years, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the architect of Bangladesh and the Father of the Nation, was assassinated by a handful of ambitious and treacherous military officers. On that day, Bangabandhu's wife, a noble woman, Begum Fajilatunnesa; his eldest son, freedom fighter Sheikh Kamal; second son Lt. Sheikh Jamal; youngest son Sheikh Russel; two daughters-in-law, Sultana Kamal and Rosy Jamal; Bangabandhu's brother Sheikh Nasser; brothe-in-law and Agriculture Minister Abdur Rab Serniabat and his daughter Baby Serniabat; Bangabandhu's nephew, youth leader and journalist Sheikh Fajlul Huq Moni and his pregnant wife Arju Moni; Bangabandhu's security officer Brig. Jamil and a 14-year-old boy Rintoo were killed. In all, the killer slaughters 16 members and relatives of Bangadhu's family.

Martial law was imposed in the country after the killing of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Democracy was done away with and basic rights were snached away. Thus began the politics of killing, coups and conspiracy. The people's rights to food and vote were taken away. There is interntional provision to hold trial of killers to protect human rights in the world. But unfortunately in Bangladesh, a martial law ordinance was decreed(Indemnity Ordinance) exempting the self-confessed killers of Bangabandhufrom any trial. Having captured power illigally through a military coup, Gen. Ziaur Rahman debased the Constitution by incorporating the notorious Indemnity Ordinance in the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution. He rewarded the killers with jobs in Bangladesh diplomatic mission abroad. The Indemnity Ordinance was repealed by Parliament only after the Awami League led by Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina returned to power in 1996. August 15, 1975 is the blackest day in our national life. The nation observes this day as National Mourning Day.

Begum Fazilatunnesa বেগম ফজি মুজিব (Birth: Tungipara, Gopalganj., Aug 8, 1930) – Begum Fazilatunnesa was the wife of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, mother of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Hasina says her mother was actively involved in forwarding the cause of Bangladesh's independence and bent on making her husband's dream come true.

Sheikh Kamal (Birth: Gopalganj, Aug 5, 1949) – Sheikh Kamal was the eldest son of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He was a freedom fighter. He was the founder of Abahani Krira Chakra. He also played significant roles in the 1966 movement for self-determination, and the 1969 mass uprising.

Sultana Kamal Khuku (Birth: Dhaka, 1951) - Sultana Kamal Khuku was the wife of Sheikh Kama. She had a BSS (Hons) from Dhaka University. She was an established athlete. She won several national prizes in long jumps with records.

Sheikh Jamal (Birth: Gopalganj, Apr 28, 1954) – Sheikh Jamal was the second son of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. While being under house arrest with his mother in July, 1971, he fled to free zone and participated in liberation war.

Parveen Jamal Rosy (Birth: Sylhet, 1956) – Parveen Jamal Rosy was the wife of Sheikh Jamal and daughter of Bangabandhu's younger sister Khadeza Hossain. She was studying at Badrunnesa Ahmed College. Her father was Syed Hossain serving as the establishment ministry secretary under Bangabandhu government.

Sheikh Russel (Birth: Oct 18, 1964) - Sheikh Russel was the youngest son of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He was a 10 year-old student at Dhaka University Laboratory High School.

Sheikh Abu Naser (Birth: Tungipara, Gopalganj, Sept 1928) - Sheikh Abu Naser was the younger brother of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He was a renowned businessman in Khulna.

Abdur Rab Serniabat,( Birth: Barisal, Chaitra, 1327) – Abdur Rab Serniabat was the husband of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's third sister Amena Begum. Bangabandhu appointed him as agriculture minister in 1973. He had a significant role in reforms in agriculture.

Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni (Birth: Tungipara, Gopalganj, Dec 4, 1939) – Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni was the eldest son of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's elder sister. He was the founding chairman of Awami Juba League.

Begum Arzu Moni (Birth: Barisal, Mar 15, 1947, Barisal) – Begum Arzu Moni was the wife of Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni. She sat MSS exams in political science in Dhaka University in 1975.

Baby Serniabat (Birth: Barisal, May 20, 1960) - Baby Serniabat was the youngest daughter of Abdur Rab Serniabat. She was a class-nine student of Laboratory High School in Dhaka University.

Shahid Serniabat (Birth: Barisal, Mar 26, 1940) - Shahid Serniabat was a nephew of Abdur Rab Serniabat. He was the correspondent to Dainik Bangla in Barisal.

Abdul Nayeem Khan Rintu (Birth: Barisal, Dec 1, 1957) - Abdul Nayeem Khan Rintu was a cousin of Amir Hossain Amu. He sat SSC exam under Barisal Zilla School in 1975.

Arif Serniabat (Birth: Mar 27, 1964) - Arif Serniabat was the youngest son of Abdur Rab Serniabat. He was a class-four student of Laboratory High School in Dhaka University.

Sukanto Abdullah Babu (Birth: Gauranadi, Barisal, June 22, 1971) – Sukanto Abdullah Babu was a grand son of Abdur Rab Serniabat.

Col. Jamaluddin Ahmed (Birth: Gopalganj, Feb 1, 1933) - Col. Jamaluddin Ahmed was the chief security officer of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.