Chair for Bangabandhu finally open for public

Dhaka University authorities had made all preparations to hold its convocation on the morning of August 15, 1975, which the country's President Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was scheduled to attend.

The organisers had brought a special chair for the Father of the Nation. But before the dawn broke, Bangabandhu, along with most of his family members, was brutally murdered by a band of disgruntled army officers.

Following his death, the authorities abandoned the convocation.

The historical chair remained unused and uncared for in a room of Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) at DU, with thick layer of dust covering it for 41 years, until it was finally put on a public display today at TSC marking the National Mourning Day.

DU Vice-Chancellor Professor AAMS Arefin Siddique inaugurated the programme by lifting a curtain from over the chair.

"The chair should be preserved as it has a great historical link," said TSC director AMM Mohiuzaman Chowdhury.

"The chair having linked with a sad memory of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has been presented today. It will be kept at TSC auditorium for the visitors," DU VC told The Daily Star.  

"Bangabandhu was supposed to come at Dhaka University on this day in 1975. But because of his assassination, he could not do that," the VC said while addressing a discussion programme at TSC this morning.

He also urged all to be united against militancy and terrorism following the ideology of Bangabandhu.

Elaborate programmes to mark the National Mourning Day were held including hoisting the national flag at half-mast, milad mahfil, special prayers, art competition among children, and placing wreaths on Bangabandhu's portrait.

Earlier in the morning, teachers and officials of DU led by its VC Prof Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique placed wreaths on the portrait of Bangabandhu at Dhanmondi 32 to commemorate the Father of the Nation and most of his family members who were killed on August 15, 1975.

Special prayers were offered after Zohr prayer at the DU central mosque along with other mosques and other places of worship on the university campus.

Dhaka University Journalists Association (DUJA) organised a photo exhibition at TSC where 115 rare photos of Bangabandhu were displayed.

An art competition among children was also held at the faculty of Fine Arts on the theme ‘Bangabandhu and Bangladesh’.