DHAKA, Aug 15, 2015 (BSS)- For the first time in the history of Bangladesh, a life-size portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has been placed in the National Press Club on the National Mourning Day today. 

 

 Prime Minister's media adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury and president of the National Press Club Muhammad Shafiqur Rahman unveiled the portrait of Bangabandhu grafted on marble stone on the eastern wall of the club lobby in the morning in presence of a large number of senior and working journalists. 

 

 The portrait was ceremonially unveiled as a mark of respect to Bangabandhu in observance of the 40th anniversary of his martyrdom. 

 

 Terming it's a memorable day for the National Press Club, Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury said, "Father of the Nation donated the piece of land for our club. But, we could not come up with proper respect and honour to the great leader so far. It was shameful for us. The image of the National Press Club has been glorified by putting the portrait of the indomitable independence leader." 

 

 M Shafiqur Rahman termed the day as historic for the National Press Club as the portrait of Bangabandhu could be placed in there on the 40th anniversary of martyrdom of the great leader facing all odds and defeating conspiracies of the defeated forces. 

 

 "With the placing of Bangabandhu's portrait in a national institution like the Press Club our long cherished hopes and expectations have been fulfilled and through this the journalists community has been freed from a shameful and disgraceful situation that prevailed for long," the Press Club president added.

 

 Among other senior newsmen and members of the National Press Club and leaders of different unions of journalists present on the occasion, were Managing Director and Chief Editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Abul Kalam Azad, president of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul, secretary general Abdul Jalil Bhuiyan, president of Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) Altaf Mahmud, general secretary Kuddus Afrad, editor of the daily Samakal Golam Sarwar, Hasan Shahriar, acting editor of the daily Jugantar Saiful AIam, editor of the daily Bhorer Kagoj Shyamal Datta, Azizul Islam Bhuiyan, Shafiqul Karim Sabu, Omar Faruk, Mollah Jalal, Kartik Chaterjee, Ashraf Ali and Hasan Arefin. 

 

 After unveiling Bangabandhu's portrait, the attending journalists raised full throated slogans like "Our salute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu" and "We will not let Bangabandhu's blood go in vein". 

 

 Marking the day, the National Flag was lowered at half must and black flag was hoisted while wreaths were placed in front of Bangabandhu's portrait and one-minute silence was observed and special prayers (Munajat) offered by BFUJ, DUJ and freedom fighters' newsmen command as a mark of respect to those martyrs of the August 15 carnage for the first time in the club's history.