Thousands in Tungipara pay homage to Bangabandhu

People head towards the mausoleum of Bangabandhu at Tungipara as local educational institutions were closed following hanging of the killers of Bangabandhu yesterday.Photo: STAR

Thousands of people, including Awami League men, teachers and students, thronged Bangabandhu mausoleum in Tungipara of Gopalganj yesterday morning to pay homage to the father of the nation.
They also expressed their satisfaction over the execution of five condemned killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Meanwhile, Commerce Minister Faruq Khan reached Tungipara around 12:30pm, visted the Bangabandhu's grave and offered prayer.
Rajab Ali, Abdur Razzak, Anwar Hossain and others, who laid Bangabandhu to eternal rest at Tungipara after August 15 killings, visited the grave after Fazr prayers and offered special prayers seeking salvation of the deaparted soul.
Caretakers of Bangabandhu mausoleum hoisted national flag atop the mausoleum in the morning.
When the news of execution of five condemned killers spread in Tungipara after midnight on Wednesday, people took to the streets, thronged the mausoleum complex and placed wreaths on grave of Bangabandhu.
Colleges and schools in Tungipara remained closed yesterday and national flag was hoisted atop the houses and shops in the upazila.
Students, teachers, AL leaders and followers of Bangabandhu from different parts of Tungipara upazila and nearby districts came to the mausoleum in the morning and paid homage to Bangladesh's founding father.
People recited from the holy Quran sitting beside the grave after Fazr prayers and offered special prayer.
Receiving the news of execution of five condemned killers during Fazr prayers at the local mosque, Abdur Razzak Molla, 86, rushed to the mausoleum and offered special prayer. He was one of those who buried the body of Bangabandhu on August 15, 1975.
Former chairman of Tungipara municipality Ilias Hossain said a dark cloud that has been looming over the nation since August 15, 1975 was partially removed on Wednesday night with the executions of five condemned killers of Bangladesh's architect.
Syed Nurul Haque Manik Miah, who was Bangabandhu's classmate at the primary school, took a photograph of the country's founding father and stared at it for long.
Sheikh Jinnatunnessa Jinni Bibi, 86, elder sister of Begum Fazilatunnessa. said she was happy over execution of the verdict of Bangabandhu murder case.