Mashrafe Pays Tribute to Bangabandhu on Death Anniversary

Former Bangladesh national cricket captain and former parliamentarian Mashrafe Bin Mortaza paid tribute to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the 51st anniversary of the country’s founding leader’s death.

Mashrafe expressed his tribute in a post on his verified Facebook page on Saturday, 15 August. He shared an image featuring Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and wrote simply, “Humble tribute.”

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, widely known as Bangabandhu, was assassinated on 15 August 1975 in a military coup at his residence at Dhanmondi 32 in Dhaka. The killing also claimed the lives of several members of his family and others who were present at the residence or were targeted elsewhere in the capital.

Among those killed at Dhanmondi 32 were his wife, Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib, and their sons Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russell. His daughters-in-law, Sultana Kamal and Rosy Jamal, were also killed. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s younger brother, Sheikh Abu Naser, was among the other victims. His military secretary, Colonel Jamil Uddin Ahmed, along with security personnel and other individuals, were also killed.

The violence was not confined to the Mujib family residence. Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni, a prominent political figure and nephew of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was killed at his residence along with his pregnant wife, Arzoo Moni. At another residence, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s brother-in-law Abdur Rab Serniabat and several members of his family were also killed.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s two daughters, Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana, survived because they were abroad in Brussels, Belgium, at the time of the assassination.

The events of 15 August subsequently became a significant part of Bangladesh’s political and historical discourse. During the period when the Awami League government led by Sheikh Hasina was in power, 15 August was observed as National Mourning Day, and the government declared the day a public holiday.

That arrangement changed following the political upheaval of 2024. Sheikh Hasina resigned as prime minister and left Bangladesh on 5 August amid a large-scale student-led movement. The interim government that followed later cancelled the public holiday associated with 15 August. The decision remains in effect.

Mashrafe’s tribute comes against this backdrop, with the anniversary continuing to carry considerable historical and political significance in Bangladesh. His brief message, accompanied by an image of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, marked his public observance of the anniversary this year.