DHAKA: The National Mourning Day, commemorating the 40th anniversary of Bangabandhu’s tragic assassination, will be observed across the country on Saturday.

Awami League has chalked out nationwide programmes to mark the day. Along with the ruling party, different political parties, and student and socio-cultural organizations also have planned programmes to mourn for the architect of the country's independence and most of his family members.

The ruling party has been carrying out its 40-day long programmes from August 1 to mark the day.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also the ruling Awami League president, will pay tributes to Bangabandhu placing wreaths at his portrait at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in the morning.

The programmes of the mourning Day also include lowering of the national and party flags at half-mast and hoisting of black flags at Bangabandhu Bhaban, party's central office and its offices across the country at dawn.

Wreaths will be placed at the portrait of Father of the Nation at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi at 6:45 am and at the graves of the martyrs of August 15 carnage at Banani at 7-30 am.

Leaders and activists of Awami League and its front organisations as well as people of different walks of life will pay homage to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman marking the day.

Fateha, munajat and milad mahfil will also be offered there to seek salvation of the departed souls of Bangabandhu and his family members.

A programme will be also arranged at the grave of Bangabandhu at Tungipara at 10 am.

Doa and milad mahfils will be organised at mosques after Zohr prayers and special prayers will be offered at all the places of worships including temples, pagodas and churches.

Cooked food will be distributed among the less fortunate and poor people while Mahila Awami League will organise a doa and milad mahfil at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum after Asr prayers.

The day is a public holiday.

Bangabandhu was assassinated in a military putsch on August 15, 1975, along with most of his family members. The predawn attacks left a total of 24 people killed.

The victims also include Bangabandhu's wife Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib, sons Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and nine-year-old Sheikh Russell, daughters-in-law Sultana Kamal and Parveen Jamal, brother Sheikh Naser, nephew Sheikh Fazlul Huq Moni and his wife Begum Arju Moni, brother-in-law Abdur Rab Serniabat, 13-year-old Baby Serniabat, Serniabat's son Arif and four-year-old grandson Babu, three guests, Bangabandhu's four domestic helps, and his security chief Col Jamil Uddin Ahmed.

Bangabandhu’s two daughters -- Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana -- could escape the bloodbath as they were abroad at the time.

BDST: 1617 HRS, AUG 14, 2015
RS