Programmes to mark Mourning Day

The government and different socio- political and cultural organisations have chalked out elaborate programmes to observe the National Mourning Day with a befitting manner today.
The day is observed as a disgruntled group of army officers assassinated Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members on August 15, 1975.
The Supreme Court on November 19, 2009, confirmed the death sentence of 12 self-confessed killers of Bangabandhu. Of them, five were executed on January 28 last year and one--Abdul Aziz Pasha--died in Zimbabwe in June, 2001.
Six others--Khandaker Abdur Rashid, Shariful Haque Dalim, SHMB Nur Chowdhury, AM Rashed Chowdhury, Moslehuddin and Abdul Mazed--are still at large.
It is suspected that Moslehuddin and Mazed might be hiding at somewhere in India. Delhi has assured Dhaka of making all efforts to hold and hand them over to it.
Talking to The Daily Star, Law Minister Shafique Ahmed yesterday said Nur Chowdhury and Khandaker Abdur Rashid have been on the run in Canada and USA respectively.
“Hectic moves, including appointment of lawyers, have been taken by the government to bring back [the fugitive killers] immediately to the country to execute their trial,” he said, adding, “The foreign ministry has been trying to get others' whereabouts.”
The law minister also said the government is committed to bring the fugitive killers of the great Bangalee back to country to put on trial.
BNP founder late president Ziaur Rahman, also former army chief, was passively involved in the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, US journalist and writer Lawrence Lifschultz has said.
President Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will place wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu at Dhanmondi Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at 6:30am today. The armed forces will present a guard of honour, and a special prayer will be offered there.
The premier will also place wreaths at the graves of family members of the Father of the Nation and other martyrs at Banani Graveyard at 7:30am today.
She will place wreaths at the grave of Father of the Nation at Tungipara at 10:00am on the same day.
As per the programmes, the national flag would be hoisted at half-mast at sunrise at the government, semi-government and autonomous organisations, educational institutions and private buildings.
The national flag would also be hoisted at half-mast at Bangladesh Missions abroad.
Milad mahfils and munajats after Zohr prayers will be held at different mosques, while prayers will be held at temples, churches and other places of worship on the day.
District and upazila administrations will observe the day through discussions, milad mahfils and other programmes in conformity with the national programmes.