Sheikh Hasina Homecoming

File photo Sheikh Hasina got down from the plane and broke down in tears

Sheikh Hasina's historic homecoming day today

After the assassination of Bangabandhu, Hasina returned to Bangladesh on May 17, 1981, after a long exile. She arrived at the then Dhaka Kurmitola Airport via Kolkata from Delhi, the capital of India, on a Boeing flight of Indian Airlines at 4.30 pm.

On the occasion of Hasina's Homecoming Day, various socio-cultural organizations including Awami League have taken detailed programmes across the country.

Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was brutally killed along with his family on August 15, 1975. At that time his two daughters, Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana, were saved as they were abroad. Hasina was later elected President of the Awami League in her absence during the National Council Session held in Dhaka on February 14, 15 and 16, 1981. She then returned to the country on May 17.

In response to the heartfelt love of about 1.5 million people present at the airport to welcome Sheikh Hasina, she said that day, "I have come to the country to take part in the liberation struggle from the side of the people of Bengal. I did not come to be the leader of Awami League. I want to be by your side as your sister, as a daughter, as an Awami League worker who believes in the ideals of Bangabandhu."

In a tearful voice, she said, "I see millions of known people in today's rally, but not only my dear father Bangabandhu, mother and brothers and many more dear ones."

Sheikh Hasina said, "My brother Russel will never come back, he will not call me Apa (sister). I have lost everything, today you are my relatives."

When the plane carrying Sheikh Hasina was seen in the sky at 4:30 pm on May 17, thousands of people entered the airport ignoring all controls and requests. The plane landed at great risk. The crowd went straight to the plane. After many attempts, the truck was taken to the front of the cockpit door after moving the the huge crowd. At this time Sheikh Hasina waved to the crowd from inside.

At 4:32 pm, Sheikh Hasina got down the stairs and got into the truck. At that time, thousands of people chanted slogan- "Hasina, we promise you, we will take revenge of the murder of Mujib."

Sheikh Hasina's motorcade took three hours to reach Sher-e-Bangla Nagar from Kurmitola. City life was almost endangered due to heavy rains at this time. Hundreds of thousands of people waited for her. She appeared at the mass reception at 7.30 pm.