The much-awaited Mujib Barsho celebrations begin tomorrow (Tuesday) across the country amid huge enthusiasm among the people, braving the rising coronavirus pandemic throughout the globe. Different government and non-government organisations have chalked out a variety of programmes as part of the yearlong celebrations [March 17, 2020-March 26, 2021] of Mujib Barsho, marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The government, which first decided a grand launch of the celebrations at National Parade Ground in the capital, later shelved the plan as the deadly coronavirus pandemic continued spreading around the world. Considering the gravity of the situation, the ruling Awami League also rescheduled the Mujib Barsho programmes to avoid mass gatherings, giving priority to public health and people’s welfare.
March 17 has been declared as a national holyday when the National Children Day will also be observed countrywide.
Chief Coordinator of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Birth Centenary Celebration National Implementation Committee Dr Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury has given necessary instructions on Mujib Barsho celebrations to the divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners.
The Mujib Barsho celebrations will be officially inaugurated in the capital’s Suhrawardy Udyan through fireworks on Tuesday at 8 pm, the time when Bangabandhu was born. President M Abdul Hamid will deliver his speech after the fireworks. President Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will issue separate messages on the occasion.
The inaugural function of Mujib Year will be broadcast by the country’s all television channels and radio stations at a time and the function will also be broadcast through the social media. Other formal programmes including the recorded speeches of the President and Prime Minister will be aired live on the day. The programmes at Dhanmondi 32 in the capital and Tungipara in Gopalganj will be held as usual.
Doa Mahfil will be held across the country, but programmes including those at the educational institutions will be organised on the limited scale. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will go to Tungipara of Gopalganj March 17 morning on the occasion of the birth centenary of Bangabandhu.
According to officials at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Sheikh Hasina, the eldest daughter of Bangabandhu, along with her family members will place floral wreaths at the graveyard of Bangabandhu at 10:00am and take part in a function. Kamal Abdul Naser said Bangabandhu’s birth centenary celebrations would be meaningful, if his ideology could be presented to the new generation.
Country’s people, especially the young generation, will be able to know the life and works of Father of the Nation through the celebrations of Mujib Year, he said. The young generation will play an active role in different nation-building activities being imbued with the spirit of 1971 Liberation War and ideal of Bangabandhu, he added.
The birth centenary of Bangabandhu is not only a unique day for the Bengali nation; it is a day of joyousness, indeed. Meanwhile, the historic Suhrawardy Udyan got a colourful look. As part of the earlier schedule, the programmes at the National Parade Ground were supposed to be participated by more than one lakh guests from home and abroad, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and ministers and diplomats from different countries.
