Bangladesh Interim Govt Scraps August 15 National Holiday Observed For Bangabandhu
Bangladesh Political Crisis: As Bangladesh’s new leader Muhammad Yunus works on rebuilding the country, it seems that the nation’s founder is being overlooked. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, known as the Father of the Nation, will no longer be honored on his death anniversary.
In a meeting led by Bangladesh's interim leader Yunus, the government decided to cancel the national holiday on August 15, which marks Mujib's death anniversary, according to Bangladeshi media.
Yunus Cancels National Day of Mourning, Decision Made After Broad Consensus
On August 15, 1975, Mujib and most of his family were killed in a coup in Bangladesh. His daughter, Sheikh Hasina, survived because she was abroad at the time. After civilian rule was restored, Mujib's death anniversary, known as ‘Bangabandhu’ for his leadership during the Bangladesh Liberation War, was observed as a public holiday called the National Day of Mourning.
After canceling the national holiday, Yunus’ office said the decision was made after discussing it with all political parties and reaching a broad agreement, according to The Dhaka Tribune.
Bangladesh Government Installs Technocrats, Islamists After Hasina's Ouster
Yunus, 84, is leading a temporary government made up of technocrats, Islamic clerics, and former military members. This government was set up by the Bangladeshi military and protest leaders who, along with the pro-Pakistan Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami, removed Hasina last week.
Since Hasina's removal, there has been a backlash against her and her father’s legacy. Protesters in Dhaka climbed onto Mujib’s statue and attacked it, with one person even urinating on it. The house where Mujib and his family were killed, which had been a museum, was also burned down by rioters.
In her first statement after being ousted, Hasina urged the people of Bangladesh to observe Thursday, August 15, as the National Day of Mourning. She asked them to place flowers at Mujib’s house, Bangabandhu Bhavan, which has been burned down.
