PM releases stamps marking National Mourning Day, attends doa mahfil virtually

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has released commemorative postage stamps and participated at a doa mahfil ahead of the National Mourning Day and the 45th martyrdom anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to be observed on Saturday.

The premier formally unveiled a Tk90 postage stamp sheetlet containing 18 stamps (Tk5 each), two first day covers – one Tk10 and another Tk100 – and a data card of Tk5 at a ceremony at her official residence Ganabhaban on Friday morning, reports BSS.

A special canceller was used on the occasion.

The premier also released a Tk10 postage stamp, a Tk10 first day cover and a Tk5 data card commemorating reinstatement of the studentship of the Bangabandhu by Dhaka University (DU).

She also used a special canceller marking the occasion.

The DU authorities, in a decision, reinstated studentship of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on August 14 in 2010, 61 years after Bangabandhu was expelled from DU for participating in a movement of its class four employees.

Besides, the prime minister unveiled two separate Tk10 postage stamps, two Tk10 first day covers and two Tk5 taka data cards, marking the Genocide Day 2020 (March 25) and the National Independence Day 2020 (March 26) respectively.

Minister for Post, Telecommunication and Information Technology Mustafa Jabbar, PM's Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus, PMO Secretary Tofazzal Hossain Miah, Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim and Director General of Bangladesh Post Office Shudhangshu Shekhar Bhadra were present on the occasion, among others.

Meanwhile, Minister for Post and Telecommunication Mustafa Jabbar handed over a special album of 100 commemorative stamps on Bangabandhu's political and family photos to the prime minister.

Besides, the minister handed over a Tk20 souvenir sheet, a Tk10 first day cover and a Tk5 data card to the prime minister which were released on August 8 marking the 90th birth anniversary of the great woman Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnessa Mujib.

The sale of stamps, first-day covers and data cards will start from Philatelic Bureau of Dhaka GPO from Saturday and those will be available at other GPOs and head post offices across the country later.

"You're my nearest and dearest", PM tells orphans

Meanwhile, in another event on the same day, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina described the orphans as her "nearest and dearest ones" and vowed to build a beautiful future for them, BSS adds.

"I want to tell you that you are not orphans and helpless… Our government, since assuming office, remains beside you as always, and as long as I remain alive, I will also stay by you," she said.

Referring to the assassination of her parents and most of her family members on the fateful night of August 15, 1975, she said: "Naturally, we understand very well the pain of the orphans as we have become orphans (through the August 15 carnage)."

The premier was addressing a function marking the completion of recitation of holy Quran for 50,000 times by the children of 85 "Shishu Paribar" and six "Shishu Nibash" across the country on the occasion of Mujib Borsho as well as a milad and doa mahfil on the occasion of the 45th martyrdom anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The Social Welfare Ministry and the Social Welfare Department arranged the programme at the office of the Social Welfare Department at Agargaon in the capital.

The prime minister joined and addressed the event through a videoconference from Ganabhaban. 

Sheikh Hasina mentioned that they celebrate birthday of their children, grandchildren and martyred brothers taking the orphans.

Social Welfare Minister Nuruzzaman Ahmed addressed the function while State Minister of the Ministry Md Ashraf Ali Khan Khasru was also present there.

Secretary of the ministry Mohammad Zainul Bari presided over the function.

Wishing the beautiful and successful life of all children, Sheikh Hasina also asked them to work with honesty, sincerity and integrity for the welfare of the country.

The premier recalled that, after independence, the father of the nation took many steps for social welfare. "The Bangabandhu mentioned the rights of the children in constitution and also enacted the Child Rights law," she said.

The premier further said her government is providing an allowance of Tk2,000 each to one lakh children under a programme. "We are also giving various allowances to them while adequate amount of money is being given to the Shishu Paribar so that it's run smoothly and the orphans can lead a decent life."

Sheikh Hasina said her government has constructed "Sonamoni Nibash" and "Shanti Nibash" for orphans as well as widows, women abandoned by husbands, and elderly people.

The premier said Bangabandhu liberated the country for changing the fate of the people. "We will do our best as much as possible so that Bangabandhu's soul rests in peace and his blood does not go in vain."

Sheikh Hasina said: "Those who killed Bangabandhu are hated and we tried them by annulling the infamous indemnity ordinance."

Sheikh Hasina urged all to pray to Almighty Allah so that the people get rid of the coronavirus and the country can advance again beautifully.