UNB, Dhaka:

Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, who is now in India after being ousted as Bangladesh’s prime minister last week, has reportedly started making contacts with her party leaders at various levels.

She has given instructions to the party’s members to go out to observe the National Mourning Day on 15 August, according to some party sources with whom Hasina reportedly made contacts.

The 15 August marks the day when Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was killed by a group of misguided army officers in 1975.

The carnage also saw the killings of most of his family members, including his wife, three sons and two daughters-in-law.

The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the current situation, said Awami League leaders are starting communication among themselves to emerge from hiding and observe the day through mass processions.

In one telephone conversation with an unidentified party leader, Hasina was heard saying that under his guidance, everyone should come to Dhaka and pay homage to Bangabandhu’s portrait.

She was also heard saying that since the communication system is now good, everyone can go back home after paying respects in capital Dhaka. This suggests the leader she spoke to was from outside Dhaka.

However, she has directed everyone to pay respect in a peaceful manner.

An organising secretary of the party, seeking anonymity, claimed to have spoken with the party president on Saturday.

“She asked us to keep in touch with the party leaders. At the same time, she said that we should observe the mourning day programme on 15 August. Let’s see what happens. But we will not be involved in any discord with anyone.”

Another organising secretary of the party, also wishing not to be named, confirmed getting party instructions in this regard.

“We will hold a mourning procession on National Mourning Day on 15 August. It is a national programme. If we do not do that, we will have to answer to our conscience. And this is not a revenge programme. If we fail, we should not be in this country.”

Awami League’s middle-ranking leaders are also expressing their position through social media to hold programmes on the day of mourning. They are discussing in various social media groups to unite and gather at Dhanmondi-32 through a mourning procession.

According to the party leaders, the Awami League wants to ensure the presence of leaders and activists in Dhaka even under adverse conditions.

Hasina-led Awami League government ruled the country for 15 consecutive years before it was toppled by a student-led uprising on 5 August.

She came under severe criticism for fleeing the country for her safety without considering the situation the party leaders and activists would face.