is it mourning for Bangabandhu or vulgar self promotion?

It's one of the biggest losses the nation has ever suffered. Within only four years of independence, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the man who led the Bangalees in 1971 Liberation War, was assassinated by some disgruntled army officers. Most of his family members were also brutally murdered in the bloodbath on August 15, 1975. Every year Bangladesh observes the day in tears and prayers and with great respect.

It's our National Mourning Day. The government and different socio-political organisations, including the party Bangabandhu led for years, hold different programmes to mark the day. One of the most noticeable features of the way the Awami League and its associate bodies observe the day is numerous banners, billboards and festoons. Interestingly, those are mere publicity materials which highlight some little known faces of ruling party men and their party positions. Regrettably in many cases, even Bangabandhu himself gets less prominence. The photos taken at Bangabandhu Avenue, Dhanmondi, Mirpur, Farmgate and some other places in the capital show such shameless self promotion of some petty party men in the name of observing August 15.

Photo: Star