Bangamata’s 93rd birth anniversary today

The 93rd birth anniversary of Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, wife of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, is being observed today (August 8) in a befitting manner across the country. President and Prime Minister have issued separate messages on the eve of the 93rd birth anniversary of Bangamata.

They have paid glowing tributes to Bangamata saying her ideology will always remain as a source of inspiration for Bangalee women. They have also said Bangamata played a pivotal role in building the nation staying beside the Father of the Nation.

Marking the day, the Awami League (AL) and its associate bodies have chalked out programmes to pay respect to her memory. The programmes include placing wreaths at her grave in city’s Banani area, distributing food among orphans and holding discussions.

Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and other private television channels and radios will broadcast special programmes to mark the day. Bangamata, also known by her nick name Renu, was born on August 8 in 1930 at Tungipara village in Gopalganj. She was a paternal cousin of her husband Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Renu was only 8 years old when she was married to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who himself was just 18, in 1938.

Bangamata was killed brutally along with Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members at the fateful night of August 15 in 1975.

Fazilatunnesa Mujib was under house arrest during Bangladesh Liberation War until December 17, 1971. She was born to the Bengali Muslim Sheikh family in the village of Tungipara, Gopalganj.

Her father’s name was Sheikh Zahurul Haque and her mother’s name was Sheikh Husne Ara Begum. Her father, Sheikh Zahurul Haque, and mother, Husne Ara Begum, died when she was three years old.

Last year in an award giving ceremony, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sketched Bangamata’s key-shadow role in protracted independence struggle particularly in major turning points like the six-point demand, Bangabandhu’s release issue and his March 7 speech.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh’s emergence would have been impossible if Bangamata hadn’t taken a bold step against proposed inclusion of two more points to the Six-Point Demand while Bangabandhu was in Pakistani military captivity during the Agartala conspiracy case.

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