By Husneara Choudhury, New York
The 51st martyrdom anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the architect of Bangladesh’s independence, and the National Mourning Day were observed with due respect and solemnity in Jackson Heights, New York, on Saturday, August 15, 2026.
Organized by the Jackson Heights Community, the day-long program was held at 37-22, 73rd Street, in front of Nabanna Restaurant. The observance featured a voluntary blood donation drive, a doa and milad mahfil, distribution of tabarruk and food, and the distribution of prayer mats and mango sherbet.
The program began at 1:00 p.m. with a blood donation drive. At 3:00 p.m., a special doa and munajat was held seeking the eternal peace and forgiveness of the souls of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the members of his family who were martyred on August 15, 1975. Imam Kazi Qayyum led the munajat.
The program continued until the evening, drawing a large number of Bangladeshi expatriates as well as people from different communities and backgrounds.
According to the organizers, approximately 1,500 people were served tabarruk and meals during the event. Five cows were sacrificed for the occasion. Mango sherbet and prayer mats were also distributed among attendees.
Chief Coordinator Shah J. Choudhury said that approximately 40 people voluntarily donated blood during the humanitarian blood drive, making the mourning observance an opportunity to serve humanity.
The program was chaired by Shakil Mia, while General Secretary Md. Alam Nomi was responsible for overall management. Mir Nizam-ul Haque served as Convener of the mourning program, Mamun Miaji as Member Secretary, and Harun Bhuiyan as Chairman. Chief Coordinator Shah J. Choudhury coordinated the overall activities, while Bipul Saha and Moinul Islam supervised the program.
Among those present were Joint Conveners Mia Md. Dulal, Alamgir Hossain, Abdul Malek, and Abdul Hamid; Joint Member Secretaries Duke Khan and Md. Mahbub Rahman; Chairman Redwanul Haque; and Co-Chairmen Sakhawat Biswas, Z. R. Chowdhury (Litu), and Mofizur Rahman.
The event’s principal patrons included M. A. Aziz and Asif Bari Tutul. Other patrons included Moinul Islam, Attorney Moin Chowdhury, Ashraf Chowdhury Khokon, Sohel Gazi, Fahad Soleman, Nurul Azim, and Tarek Hasan Khan.
A number of prominent community leaders, political representatives, journalists, writers, cultural activists, and social figures also attended the observance. Among them were Siddiqur Rahman, President of Awami League USA; Abdus Samad Azad, General Secretary; Md. Iqbal Hossain, President of Swechhasebak League; Kibria Zaman, General Secretary; Mahmudul Hasan, President of Chhatra League; and Md. Hridoy Mia, General Secretary.
Journalists and community personalities including Akbar Haider Kiran, Abul Kashem, Shibbir Ahmed, Reza Rashid, Ahsan Habib, Farhad Reza, Nilufa Shirin, Hasan Jilani, Md. Kamal Uddin Bhuiyan, Golam Hasan, Rafiqul Islam, Aktarur Rahman Mamun, Anisuzzaman Sabuj, Md. Nazer Uddin, Saeed Khan, Rachchu Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud Sohel, Md. Lutfur Rahman Chumu, Md. Jahid, Md. Ashraful Aziz, Md. Jahirul Islam, Md. Abdur Rahim Bhuiyan, Md. Abu Taher, Md. Anwar Hossain (Anu), Ahad Bhuiyan, Amin Khan Zakir, Shafiqul Rahman, Abul Fazal Didar, Mirza M. Zaman, Shah Shahidul Haque, Md. Sohag, Dr. Touhid Shibli, Tanvir Shaheen, and Sohel Gazi were also present.
The event received extensive support from numerous community volunteers and organizers, including Kamruzzaman Bokul, Humayun Kabir Dhali, Md. Manik Babu, Asadul Islam Asad, Md. Hasnat Hasan, Shams Jony, Shaheen Chowdhury, Aftab Jony, Akram Hossain Biplob, Md. Sayem Ullah, Mukta Mia, Gopal Sanyal, Jahangir H. Mia, Nuruzzaman Sardar, Golam Kibria, Kamal Hossain Rafi, H. M. Iqbal, Zafar Ahmed, Wasim, Ganesh Kirtaniya, Md. Radbi, Shahriar Hossain, Shobhon, Anwar Uddin, Mohiuddin Rahal, Redwanur Rahman Jewel, Jahanara Akter (Lucky), Farhana Chowdhury, Monir Hossain, Shyamal Nath, Matiur Rahman, Matin, Manzur Chowdhury, Md. Zahid Mia, Anisuzzaman Sabuj, Abdul Hadi Rana, Bidyut Hossain, and Hasanuzzaman Sabu.
Also in attendance were Rashed Ahmed, Faruk Hossain, Golam Mostofa Khan Meraj, Mukit Chowdhury, Lavlu Ansar, Abul Bashar Chunnu, Khurshed Alam Bablu, Mizanur Rahman, Md. Chana Ullah, and Saikat Akbar (Ritchie).
Members and associates of the Advisory Council included Chief Adviser Shah Newaz, along with Harun Bhuiyan, Md. Mohiuddin Dewan, Rashed Ahmed, Ishtiaq Rumi, Sirajul Haque Kamal, Kamruzzaman Kamrul, Mansur Chowdhury, Md. Piar, Rafiq Ahmed, Iktaruzzaman Ratan, Md. Kabir Ratan, Shafiquddin Mia, and Shahadat Hossain.
Speakers at the program emphasized that although they live thousands of miles away from Bangladesh, expatriate Bangladeshis remain deeply connected to the country’s history, heritage, and Liberation War. They said that preserving historical awareness among younger generations and helping them understand Bangladesh’s history and values remain important responsibilities of the diaspora.
They further emphasized that remembering Bangabandhu and the martyrs of August 15 should not remain limited to formal observances. Acts of compassion and service to humanity—such as blood donation and feeding people—can also serve as meaningful expressions of remembrance.
The organizers expressed their commitment to continuing similar social, humanitarian, and community-service initiatives in the future, with the participation and cooperation of the broader Bangladeshi-American community.
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