Today, on October 18, we celebrate the birthday of Sheikh Russell, the youngest son of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and beloved brother Prime Minister Hasina. This significant date is from the year 1964, a crucial time in history when the nation was in the midst of political turmoil. The country was preparing for the final push towards independence, and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was at the forefront of the political scene. Following the tragic death of the political leader Shahid Sohrawardy, he was tirelessly working to revive the Awami League and prepare the nation for the final stage of the struggle for independence.
Meanwhile, Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib was busy overseeing the construction of a house on Road 32 in Dhanmondi, not only for the family but also ensure a secure and comfortable space for the head of the household. In the midst of this busy period, a new member was about to be born into the family. On the 18th of October, a child, with the sweet scent of autumn in the air, entered this world, and his name was Sheikh Russell. He was the beloved youngest son of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and Bangamata Fazilatunnesa Mujib.
Reflecting on Russell’s birth, his older sister and the current Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, recalls, “I still remember the day when Russell was born. We were all very excited and eagerly waiting for the arrival of this little child in our family. We wondered when we would hear his first cry, hold him in our arms, and what a joyous moment it would be. He was the apple of everyone’s eye from the moment he was born.”
From a very young age, Russell had to endure the absence of his father, as Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was frequently imprisoned due to his political activities. Russell’s fate meant that he spent very little time with his father. However, he was very close to his beloved sister, Sheikh Hasina. Russell’s childhood was filled with the joy of his family’s love, playing with his siblings, and enjoying the simple pleasures of life.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman named his youngest son Russell in homage to the renowned philosopher and Nobel laureate Bertrand Russell, who was one of his favorite authors and an influential figure in his life. This naming ceremony held special significance for Bangabandhu and Bangamata Fazilatunnesa Mujib.
Russell’s childhood was marked by the constant separation from his father, who was often imprisoned due to his political activities. Despite this, Russell’s most cherished companion was his beloved Hasu Apa (Sister Hasina). His early years were filled with laughter, riding bicycles, playing cricket with friends, and fishing by the lakeside. At the age of seven, Russell welcomed the birth of his nephew Sajeeb Wazed Joy with great enthusiasm.
As Russell grew older, he began to nurture dreams of becoming an army officer, influenced by the stories of bravery and sacrifice during the Liberation War. His interest in military matters grew, and he even organized his own little army during his childhood. This aspiration and his innate leadership qualities eventually led him to become the leader of the family army. He was General Russell.
Sheikh Russell had a short life, but in that brief span, he learned to love people, enjoyed the company of Bangabandhu, and had an unwavering bond with the Bengali family. The child who suffered from extreme isolation and ruthless brutality still continues to move the world of humanity. On Sheikh Russell’s birthday, we remember him with deep emotion, emptiness, and love. We pledge to work for the well-being of every child, just like Russell. We commit ourselves to pronounce that Bangladesh should be a safe haven for all children.
Bangabandhu’s daughter Sheikh Rehana and her younger brother Sheikh Russell have a close relationship. A quote from one of her writings can be cited: ‘Traveling with my father, Sheikh Russell had the opportunity to visit Japan, Moscow, and London. Even though he was young, he understood where to go and how to adapt. When I returned to Dhaka and shared the story of his excellent behavior with my mother and everyone else, they were all amazed.
When we visited the famous Madame Tussaud’s Museum in London, Russell’s wonder knew no bounds. Both of us also visited the Nator Uttara Ganobhavan in the north of Bangladesh. Russell used to fish there, and we would roam in the garden.
In Dhaka’s Ganobhavan, Russell would feed the fish. My uncle Arif was a very close friend of his. They both went to the same school and played together. In Tungipara, they had a little team friend of their own, where they used to cut grass with sickles, play football, and enjoy themselves.'”
To the Bengalis, Sheikh Russell is a great epic of boundless pain, a name of deep and eternal anguish, like that of Bangabandhu and his family. Whenever we remember the dark night of August 15, with its merciless, brutal massacre, Sheikh Russell’s innocent face first mingles with the blood-stained Bangabandhu family.
Had he survived, he could have strengthened the country’s development with his strong hands. Sheikh Russell could have been the reflection of the future Bangladesh.
The 11-year life story of Sheikh Russell, written by the Prime Minister, “Amar Russel Amar sona”should be placed in the hands of students in our country. The child’s compassion and humanity, Sheikh Russell, today serve as a reminder to the children, youth, and intelligent individuals of our nation.
Sheikh Russell is being reborn today as a symbol of resistance and cruelty over all children. Sheikh Russell is not just one person; he has expressed himself as a symbol of resistance and cruelty over thousands of Sheikh Russells worldwide. To us, Sheikh Russell is the eternal, evergreen child, a symbol of everlasting greenery.
In the great Liberation War of Bangladesh, wherever the red and green flag of freedom flies, there lies the history of the heroic Bengalis, and within that history, we find Sheikh Russell. Today, Russell is a unique figure of mourning. Russell was a piece of the heart of Bangabandhu. He wanted to raise Russell as a model for all the children of this country. Every child held a special place in his parents’ hearts.
Here, there is no discrimination based on caste, creed, or rich-poor distinctions. To truly build our newly independent nation, we must nurture these children properly. They must be infused with a love for the country in their fresh blood. If we can raise them well, then our existence will be meaningful.
Sheikh Russell’s name repeatedly appears in Bangabandhu’s ‘ Unfinished Memoirs (Oshomapto Attmojiboni)’ and ‘Prison Diaries’ (Karagarer Rojnamcha). The deep love for Russell is expressed in his public writings. On August 15, 1975, Sheikh Russell also had to give his life due to the assassin’s bullet.
However, Russell also had a desire to overcome the unbearable pain of his childhood and to explore the world. He also had dreams of growing up. But everything came to a standstill. The innocent bud in the garden withered away. How can we forget Sheikh Russell? In the history of Bangladesh’s Liberation War, independence, and the red and green flag, wherever it is displayed, Sheikh Russell is there. Sheikh Russell is a poem of mourning in our Bangladesh today.
