Dawn
23rd February 1969
A dream comes true: Mujib’s homecoming
DACCA, Feb 22: Hasina, eldest daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, burst into tears as she saw her father back in the house after two years and nine months of detention.
Coming straight from the University, Hasina who was recently married rushed to her father and embraced him. She tried to speak but words failed her.
Little Rehana, youngest daughter of the Sheikh who was playing in the drawing room with some other girls jumped to her father who kissed her. She told APP that “I also exchanged a kiss.” She said: I could not believe as my brother jamal broke the news! “Abba has some,” She is a student of class seven.
DREAM COMES TRUE
University student Hasina told APP that she had been in the lawn of Dacca University’s Women’s Hall (Rokeya Hall) where she was informed about her father’s release by a bearer. Then came one of her friends with the same news and asked her to rush home immediately.
Hasina said she hired an auto-rickshaw whose driver confirmed the news saying “I had a handshake with Sheikh Saheb at his residence”.
She still could not believe the news and thought it was only a rumour.
She then recalled her dream of February 18 in which someone had asked her not to worry much as he (Mujib) would be freed on March 3. She said she could not believe the news of her father’s release first as she could not think the dream would come true so soon.
Hasina said that the May 8, 1966 was “unforgettable” for her as she had offered the last cup of tea to her father in that night prior to his arrest.
She said that her father went to bed at midnight after a very busy day of his party activities. Later she and her maternal uncle went to study for their intermediate examination. Shortly after, she had to come out of the room in response to the call of a police officer who told her that they were there to arrest Sheikh Saheb.
She said that as she was talking to the police party her father got up to attend a telephone call from Mr. Tajuddin, Awami League’s General Secretary.
Mr. Tajuddin told the Sheikh that he (Tajuddin) was under arrest. Hasina then heard her father tell mother he also might be arrested. There upon Hasina told her father that the police were already in their house.
Hasina said that she then offered a cup of tea to her father before he left the house at about 3 O’clock in the morning.
Hasina said that on the day of his arrest Sheikh Saheb had addressed a public meeting at Narayangonj where a gold medal with six stars representing his Six Points was presented to him.
A PPI correspondent found thousand of people gathered to have a glimpse of their leader.
The residence of Sheikh Mujib was surrounded by a large crowd of relatives, political leaders and students. Sheikh Mujib with a broad smile, on his lips waved back to the cheering crowd.
Scenes of jubilation were all around. Immediately on his arrival his wife, son and daughters one after another embraced him, hugged him and broke down in tears. Then came the friends and admirers who also embraced him and congratulated him.- APP/PPI.
সুত্র: সংবাদপত্রে বঙ্গবন্ধু: পঞ্চম খণ্ড ॥ ষাটের দশক ॥ চতুর্থ পর্ব ॥ ১৯৬৯