On Thursday, Bangladesh’s Awami League strongly criticised the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government for not allowing the country to mark the 50th death anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 15 August and for warning citizens against holding any commemorative events.
The party had, however, planned to observe 15 August as National Mourning Day, remembering the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and several members of his family.
The Awami League further accused the ‘fascist’ Yunus government of curbing the people’s rights and freedom of speech by preventing the observance of the Father of the Nation’s death anniversary.
In a statement, the party said, “15 August is National Mourning Day — a day of grief, heavy with the most heinous and brutal assassination in the history of human civilization. On this day in 1975, the reactionary killers, enemies of humanity, assassinated Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman — the great leader of Bangladesh’s liberation movement, the champion of the oppressed and deprived people of the world, the cherished figure of Bengalis for a thousand years, the eternal source of inspiration for the nation, the architect of an independent Bangladesh, and the Greatest Bengali of all time — along with most members of his family.”
The party described August as an ‘ill-fated month’ for Bangladesh, citing the grenade attack in Dhaka on 21 August 2004, and nationwide bomb blasts on 17 August 2005. It also referred to the ‘illegal’ takeover of state power by anti-liberation forces in August 2024.
Call to Restore Bangladesh
Criticising the interim government for derailing progress in the country, the Awami League, however, urged citizens to turn their grief into strength and pledged to restore Bangladesh from its ‘current state of captivity’.
The statement recalled, “The demonic killers of 15 August 1975 did not stop at murdering Bangabandhu. They enacted the shameful Indemnity Ordinance to halt the trial process of the assassination.”
The Awami League alleged that the Yunus regime has ‘restructured’ the ICT to conduct a mock trial against Hasina and other leaders, illegally taking control of state power and suppressing public rights.
“Violating the sacred Constitution — written in the blood of millions of martyrs — the murderous fascist Yunus clique has unlawfully usurped state power, stripping the people of their rights and freedom of speech. They have even declared that they will not allow the observance of National Mourning Day on Bangabandhu’s martyrdom anniversary, and that anyone who does will be arrested,” the party said.
It further added, “They have established a reign of fear across the country. Against this wall of fear created by anti-people forces, we must strike with the power of ideals and courage. By turning the grief of August into strength and lighting the torch of resistance, we must bring forth the dawn of new possibilities.”
Calling for collective action, the Awami League urged allies, socio-cultural groups, and political organisations at home and abroad to observe National Mourning Day on 15 August with dignity, respect, and a solemn atmosphere.
15 August: Bangladesh Awami League’s Program for National Mourning Day
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15 August is National Mourning Day — a day of grief, heavy with the most heinous and brutal assassination in the history of human civilization. On this day in 1975, the reactionary killers, enemies of… pic.twitter.com/13JZUgNDWV— Bangladesh Awami League (@albd1971) August 13, 2025
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