Photo : Collected
The nation is poised to solemnly commemorate Sheikh Russell Day today, aligning with what would have marked the 60th birthday of the late Shaheed Sheikh Russell, the youngest son of the esteemed Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Russell, born on October 18, 1964, within the historic walls of Bangabandhu Bhaban on Dhanmondi road number 32 in the capital, embodied the cherished hopes and aspirations of a nation still in its infancy. However, his promising life was brutally cut short on a fateful August 15, 1975, when he, along with most of his family members, including his father, fell victim to a vicious assassination, sending shockwaves through the core of the nation's soul.
In recognition of his enduring legacy, the Cabinet Division designated October 18 as 'Sheikh Russell Day' in 2021, categorizing it under the prestigious "Ka" classification, a testament to the profound impact of his short yet influential life.
On this poignant day, a multitude of government entities, the ruling Awami League, affiliated organizations, and various socio-cultural groups will orchestrate diverse programs at both the national and international levels. Moreover, Bangladesh's diplomatic missions around the globe will also honor the day, while numerous television channels will broadcast special programs, shedding light on the significance of this occasion.
Sheikh Russell, christened after Bangabandhu's beloved intellectual influence, the esteemed philosopher and Nobel laureate Bertrand Russell, was a radiant presence within the family. Nevertheless, his childhood was marred by hardship, with poignant memories of visiting his incarcerated father in Dhaka Central Jail and Dhaka Cantonment at a tender age of one and a half. As fate would have it, he himself became an inmate of Dhaka Central Jail at the tender age of seven during the tumultuous times of 1971.
The youngest sibling in a closely-knit family, Russell's world orbited around the luminous presence of his father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, his nurturing mother Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, his revered sisters Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana, and his esteemed brothers Sheikh Kamal and Sheikh Jamal.
The heinous events of that ill-fated night in 1975 snatched away not just a young boy but also a beacon of resilience and hope. Sheikh Russell's untimely demise was a product of both internal and external machinations, leaving an indelible scar on the fabric of Bangladesh's history.
Sheikh Hasina in her book titled 'Amader Choto Russell Shona' wrote: "Tensions loomed before Russell'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 had 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 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, Russell was quite the healthy child."
Russell 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 Russell in his Karagarer Rojnamcha (prison diaries), on 15 June 1966 "18-month-old Russell 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, Russell 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 Russell in his Karagarer Rojnamcha (prison diaries) on April 14-15, 1967 "When I arrived at the prison gate, I was surprised to see that little Russell 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". Russell 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, Russell 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. Russell came out of the house saying 'Joy Bangla'. Victory celebrations were going on out there.
On the dark night of 15 August 1975, Sheikh Russell along with his family members was assassinated as a result of domestic and foreign conspiracy. He was then only a student of grade 4 of University Laboratory School.
Messenger/Disha
