Sheikh Russel Day Wednesday

Sheikh Russel Day will be observed in Bangladesh on Wednesday in a befitting manner coinciding with the 60th birthday of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's youngest son Shaheed Sheikh Russel.

Russel, also the youngest brother of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was born on October 18,  1964, at the historic Bangabandhu Bhaban at Dhanmondi road number 32 in the capital.

But he was brutally assassinated along with most of his family members, including his father Bangabandhu, on August 15, 1975, when he was a student of class four at University Laboratory School.

The Cabinet Division in 2021 declared October 18, the birthday of Sheikh Russel, as “Sheikh Russel Day” under the category "Ka".

To mark the day, government bodies, the ruling Awami League its associate bodies, and different socio-cultural organizations will observe various programs at national and international levels.

The day will also be observed at Bangladesh missions abroad while different TV channels will air special programs highlighting the significance of the day on Wednesday. 

Sheikh Russel was named after Bangabandhu's favorite writer, renowned philosopher and Noble laureate Bertrand Russel, by Bangabandhu himself and Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib.

Very active and playful from a very early age, Russel was the light of the family. However, he had to face the harsh cruelty of life from the age of one and a half, when he had to visit Dhaka Central Jail and Dhaka Cantonment just to meet his beloved father. 

From cruelty, life soon became merciless. In 1971, he himself became an inmate of Dhaka Central Jail, just at the age of seven.

Youngest of the family, his world revolved around his father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, mother Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, sisters Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana and brothers Sheikh Kamal and Sheikh Jamal.

Russel was assassinated along with his family members in a domestic and foreign conspiracy on the night of 15 August, 1975. He was then only a student in grade 4 at University Laboratory School.

Sheikh Hasina in her book titled “Amader Choto Russel Shona” wrote: "Tensions loomed before Russel's birth. Kamal, Jamal, Rehana, Khoka uncle and I, were at home. Ma was with Boro Fupu and Mejo Fupu (paternal aunts). A doctor and a nurse came along with. Time seemed to have stopped. Jamal and Rehana kept on falling asleep only to wake up again. We stayed awake the entire night to welcome the youngest member of the family. Mejo Fupu came out with the news. We had a baby brother. Our joys knew no bounds. We couldn't wait to see our baby brother. Mejo Fupu said she would call. Soon our wait came to an end. Boro Fupu placed him in my lap. A head full of thick black hair, fluffy fluffy cheeks, Russel was quite the healthy child."

Russel would never want to leave his father during his prison visits. He used to be very upset when he had to leave. 

Bangabandhu wrote about Russel in his book “The Prison Diaries” on 15 June 1966 "18-month-old Russel wouldn't smile after coming to the jail office, till he sees me.

Just like in the past, I saw him shouting "Abba! Abba!" from far away. A truck full of goods was entering through the jail gate. So, I stood at the window and caressed him. A truck full of goods was entering through the jail gate. So I stood at the window and caressed him. As soon as I entered the room, Russel grabbed me by my neck and smiled. They said he would stare at the window till I had arrived, saying "Abbar bari". He thought this was his father's home. I have to trick him when it's time to go."

Among other topics, Bangabandhu wrote about Russel in his book on April 14-15, 1967 "When I arrived at the prison gate, I was surprised to see that little Russel was not standing outside". When I entered the room and took him in my lap, he held me by my neck and called me "Abba! Abba!" a few times; and then went to his mother's lap and started calling his mother "Abba! Abba!". I asked "What is the matter?" His mother said: "At home, he keeps on crying saying "Abba! Abba!". So, I told him to call me Abba". 

Russel again started calling his mother "Abba! Abba!". No matter how much I answered his call, he would bury his face in his mother's shoulder saying, "You're my Abba!". It seems that he is upset with me. He no longer wants to take me with him when he leaves."

In 1971, Russel and his family, including his mother and two sisters, were imprisoned in a house on Dhanmondi, road no 18. 

His father Bangabandhu was imprisoned in a jail in Pakistan and his two elder brothers Sheikh Kamal and Sheikh Jamal had gone to fight in the Liberation War. 

He was released on December 16, 1971, along with his mother, sisters and other family members. Russel came out of the house saying 'Joy Bangla'. Victory celebrations were going on out there.

On the dark night of 15 August 1975, Sheikh Russel along with his family members was assassinated as a result of domestic and foreign conspiracy. He was then only a student in grade 4 at University Laboratory School.

Source: BSS