DHAKA, Aug 15: Bangledeshis offered flowers and prayers today at the grave of the country's first President, who was assassinated 22 years ago in a military coup.

Thousands of people poured into Tungipara, a village in western Bangladesh that was Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's birth place and is now the site of his grave.

Rahman's daughter, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, visited her father's Dhaka residence, which has been turned into a national museum. She stood in silence for a while.

Mujib led the country to independence from Pakistan in 1971. He and 16 members of his family were gunned down on August 15, 1975. Hasina survived as she was vacationing in Europe.

Hasina came to power in 1996 and revoked an amnesty given to the coup leaders by the previous governments. Eighteen retired Army officers and one civilian are now facing trial for killing Mujib.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.