In a move that has sparked controversy and raised concerns about the future of Bangladesh’s national identity, the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has scrapped the National Day of Mourning, effectively erasing the commemoration of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country’s founding father. The decision was made following a meeting of the interim government and reportedly reached after discussions with all political parties, according to The Dhaka Tribune.
The National Day of Mourning, observed on August 15th, marked the anniversary of Mujibur Rahman’s assassination in 1975, along with most of his family. The day was a public holiday, a solemn tribute to the “Father of the Nation,” as he is revered in Bangladesh, and his role in leading the nation’s independence from Pakistan.
The scrapping of the national holiday has coincided with a surge in attacks on the legacy of Mujibur Rahman and his family. Demonstrators have vandalized statues of the former prime minister in Dhaka, including one instance where a demonstrator was caught on camera urinating on the statue. The house where Mujibur Rahman and his family were massacred, which had been a museum for years, was also set ablaze by mobs.
This wave of attacks comes in the wake of the recent political upheaval in Bangladesh. Following protests and unrest, the military intervened and installed Yunus’ interim government, composed of technocrats, Islamic clerics, and former military figures. This came after the removal of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, daughter of Mujibur Rahman and Bangladesh’s longest-ruling leader.
The decision to abolish the National Day of Mourning has been met with outrage and sadness by many Bangladeshis, who view it as a deliberate attempt to erase the legacy of their founding father and a reflection of the deep political divisions and tensions plaguing the country. The attack on Mujibur Rahman’s legacy further underscores the complex political landscape in Bangladesh, where the struggle for power and national identity continues to play a significant role.
