Sheikh Russel Day observed

The first ever ‘Sheikh Russel Day’ was observed in the country in a befitting manner on Monday marking the 58th birthday of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s youngest son Shaheed Sheikh Russel.

Sheikh Russel, also the youngest brother of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was born on October 18 in 1964 at the historic Bangabandhu Bhaban at Dhanmondi 32 no road in the city.

But he was brutally killed along with most of his family members, including his father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, on August 15, 1975 when he was a student of class four at University Laboratory School.

The Cabinet Division this year declared October 18, the birthday of Sheikh Russel, as Sheikh Russel Day under the category “Ka”.

Marking the day, government bodies, the ruling Awami League and its associate bodies, and different socio-cultural organizations arranged various programmes at national and international levels.

Awami League and different organizations placed wreaths at the graves of all martyrs of August 15 carnage, including Sheikh Russel, in the city’s Banani graveyard in the morning.

Awami League central leaders led by party’s General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader paid homage by placing wreaths at the graves.

AL Presidium Members Begum Matia Chowdhury, Dr Abdur Razzauqe, Shajahan Khan and Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Joint General Secretaries- Mahbubul-Alam Hanif, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Organizing Secretary Afjal Hossain, Cultural Affairs Secretary Asim Kumar Ukil, Science and Technology Affairs Secretary Engineer Abdus Sabur and Office Secretary Barrister Biplab Barua were present on the occasion, among others.

Later, Dhaka city north and south units of AL, Awami Jubo League, Awami Swechchhasebak League, Tanti League, Sramik League, Chhatra League, Mohila Awami League, Mohila Sramik League, Krishak League and different social and cultural organizations placed wreaths at the grave of Sheikh Russel.

A fateha, milad and doa mahfil was held at later at the Banani graveyard mosque. Leaders of AL and its associate bodies joined it.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina distributed “Sheikh Russel Gold Medal” among the winners at a function as she opened the “Sheikh Russel Day” on the 58th birthday of Sheikh Russel,.

The premier virtually inaugurated the day and handed over the gold medals among 10 winners from her official Ganabhaban residence in the capital this morning. Sheikh Russel Jatiya Shishu-Kishore Parishad organized the function under direct supervision of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) here.

Besides, laptops were distributed among 4000 freelancers out of 40,000 participants under the Learning and Earning Development Projects (LEDPP) for their outstanding performance.

The prime minister also unveiled the cover of two books -- one titled “Sheikh Russell Jhore Jawa Phul (Sheikh Russel, a fallen flower” and another on “Sheikh Russel Deepta Joyullas, Adommo Attabishaws (Sheikh Russel radiant joy, indomitable confidence)”.

An Audio-visual presentation on the life of Sheikh Russel was screened and the theme song of the “Sheikh Russel Day” was also played at the function.

State Minister for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Zunaid Ahmed Palak presided over the function and its Senior Secretary N M Zeaul Alam, spoke on the occasion.

Krishak League arranged a discussion and doa mahfil marking the day. AL Joint General Secretary Agriculturist AFM Bahauddin Nasim addressed it as the chief guest. Krishak League President Samir Chanda chaired the function moderated by its acting general secretary Biswanath Sarker Bitu.