Bangladesh Embassy in Beijing observes National Mourning Day

The Embassy of Bangladesh in Beijing solemnly observed the National Mourning Day and 45th Martyrdom Anniversary of the Greatest Bangalee of all time, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The event was arranged today in the conference hall of the Embassy following the local instructions in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic followed by the presentation by Mohammad Monsour Uddin, Commercial Counselor of the Embassy.  

The program to commemorate the National Mourning Day commenced at the Chancery with the hoisting of the national flag at half-mast at 10am in the morning. 

Thereafter, special prayers, Qur'an recitation, and dua mahfil were conducted by Imams of local Chinese mosque for the salvation of the departed souls of the Father of the Nation and other members of his family who were brutally killed by the bullets of the assassins on 15 August 1975. 

All the officials and staff members of the embassy and other attendees observed one-minute silence in deep homage to the memory of the martyrs. On the occasion of National Mourning Day, the speeches of the Hon'ble President, Hon'ble Prime Minister, Hon'ble Foreign Minister and Hon'ble State Minister for Foreign Affairs were readout.

At the beginning of the discussion, the Deputy Chief of the Mission Mr Masudur Rahman paid deep tributes to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family members who were martyred. 

In his speech, the Deputy Chief Mission focused on a specific area covering the works of literature and poetry from poets who firmly protested against the heinous assassination by the perpetrators in the immediate years after his assassination.

The Defense Attaché of the Embassy Brigadier General SM Mahbub-Ul-Alam highlighted the personal, political, and stages of the Independence of Bangladesh. 

In his speech, he discussed the qualities of Bangabandhu as a leader, as a person, and the significance of the historic speech of March 7 given by Bangabandhu.

Md Shamsul Haque, a prominent member of the Bangladeshi community living in Beijing among others also participated in the discussion session.

Cao Yanhua, deputy director, Bangla Service, China Radio International (CRI) participated in the discussion. She focused on the celebration of the birth centenary of Bangabandhu which has started this year. 

Bangla Service, China Radio International has been promoting Bangabandhu's newly published Bangla book named "Amar Dekha Naya Chin" since March this year as part of the birth centenary celebrations. 

Yanhua added that Bangabandhu has written about various issues in China in his book. She described Bangabandhu as a visionary leader and said that Bangabandhu had predicted the development of China in this book, which is exactly how China has been progressing.

Xiaoyu Zhang, Professor of Beijing University of Communications said that she read a lot about Bangabandhu and knows about his contribution to Bangladesh. She shared her learnings with her students. 

She underscored that under the able leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh has been gradually becoming a golden Bengal. She mentioned that Bangladesh has been moving forward on the path of development and China will always be ready to extend its cooperation for the development of Bangladesh as a good friend.

Ambassador Mahbub Uz Zaman paid deep respects to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the 18 family members who were killed by the bullets of assassins on 15 August. 

In his address, he recalled the life, vision, and objectives of Bangabandhu whose dream was to establish a self-reliant, hunger-free, and independent "Sonar Bangla (Golden Bengal)". 

He described Bangabandhu as a visionary leader and chief architect of the independence of Bangladesh.

The Ambassador said that the principle espoused by Bangabandhu of "Friendship towards all and malice towards none" set up the basic contours of the foreign policy of Bangladesh. 

He said that real respect will be shown to the Father of the Nation if the nation moves forward with his vision, ideals, and objectives. 

He further said that we should work together to build a prosperous Bangladesh by implementing the Vision 2021 and Vision 2041 under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. 

The Ambassador informed everyone about the publication by the Embassy of the Chinese translation of the book "Amar Dekha Naya Chin" written by Bangabandhu during his visit to China in the fifties.

The event was attended by officials and staff members of the embassy at all levels, prominent members of the community living in Beijing, and some local Chinese scholars and students. The program was concluded with the screening of a documentary based on Bangabandhu'slife and works.