USA Bureau

On the occasion of the National Mourning Day on Thursday (August 15), eight prayers were held in various places in New York City and many mourning gatherings were held in different places including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, Michigan, Florida, California, Texas and Boston.

In New York City’s Queens, ‘Jackson Heights locals’ organized a prayer-meeting gathering of expatriates from all walks of life, regardless of party affiliation. After praying for the soul of the Father of the Nation, the program of Tabarak distribution started in the afternoon and continued till night.

Hundreds of men and women participated in the program with humble respect and took Tabarak. At that time, everyone pointed out that the liberation war was fought under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and it was possible to achieve independence so I was able to come to the United States with a red-green passport. It is our moral duty to attend the martyrdom anniversary rally of that leader and I have come far from that urge. Many expatriates have expressed their anger over the cancellation of the official holiday on August 15, the National Day of Mourning.

Another prayer ceremony was held at the initiative of the brave freedom fighters in the Jackson Heights area. In a short discussion there, the artist of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra Rathindranath Roy, President of United States Sector Commanders Forum-Muktijudda’71 Veer Muktijoddha Labloo Ansar, Vice-President Veer Muktijoddha Abul Bashar Chunnu, Secretary Veer Muktijoddha Rezaul Bari, former President Veer Muktijoddha Rashed Ahmed, veer freedom fighter Imdadul Haque, Khurshed Anwar Bablu, Commanders Forum treasurer Alim Khan Akash, executive member Nurunnahar Nisha, veer freedom fighter Imdadul Haque and others. The speakers prayed for the salvation of Bangabandhu’s soul and urged everyone to remain united in the current situation.

At Diversity Plaza, Shakti and the Awami family paid tribute to the portrait of the Father of the Nation. At this time Dr. Pradeep Kar, Abul Haseeb Mamun, Mohiuddin Dewan, Khorshed Khandkar and several other leaders made the whole area resound with the sound of Jai Bangla-Jai Bangabandhu. Expatriate artists were also present in this program. In a separate program of United States Awami League, a large number of leaders and workers gathered at Queen’s Palace led by US Awami League Pesident Dr Siddiqur Rahman.

The United States Bangabandhu Foundation’s condolence and prayer service in Brooklyn was attended by expatriates from all walks of life. All have reacted angrily to the cancellation of the ‘National Mourning Day’ holiday. Besides, the speakers referred to the incident of burning the documents containing the history of the liberation war after the looting of Bangabandhu Bhavan number 32, even after Sheikh Hasina left the country after resigning in the student uprising. Some speakers have also demanded to take legal action against those involved in such misdeeds.

It was chaired by the president of the organization, Alhaj Abdul Quader Miah , and among others, the Communication Director of the organization, heroic freedom fightet Lavlu Ansar, Senior Vice President Md. Fazlul Haque, Education Affairs Secretary Morshed Khan Badrul, Awami League leaders Jabedul Islam, Mohammad Hadi, Zahirul Islam Iran, Ali Akkas, Jasimuddin and others.

In the beginning, Religious Affairs Secretary of the Foundation, MA Jalil, led a special prayer seeking the forgiveness of the souls of all those who were martyred on August 15, including Bangabandhu.