The nation is all geared up to celebrate the 101st birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the National Children’s Day-2021 in a befitting manner today.
On this day in 1920, Bangabandhu, the undisputed leader of the Bengali nation, the architect of independent Bangladesh and the greatest Bengalee of all times, was born in a respected Muslim family at Tungipara village of the then Gopalganj sub-division, now district.
He was the third among six offspring — two sons and four daughters — of Sheikh Lutfur Rahman and Sheikh Sayera Khatun, as per a report on state-owned BSS news agency.
In celebration of the day, President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages paying profound respects to the memories of Bangabandhu and greeting children.
On behalf of the President and the Prime Minister, wreaths will be placed at the mausoleum of Bangabandhu at Tungipara in Gopalganj early morning.
The theme of this year’s birthday of Bangabandhu and National Children’s Day is “Bangabandhur Janmadin, Shishur Ridoy Hok Rangin”.
A special programme has been chalked out at the premises of Bangabandhu’s mausoleum in Tungipara.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will virtually join the programme from her official Ganabhaban residence at 10.30 am.
State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Fazilatun Nessa Indira will join it as the special guest.
Discussion, drawing and essay competitions, cultural functions are scheduled to be held at district and upazila levels and different educational institutions.
The day is a public holiday.
National dailies will publish special supplements while Bangabandhu’s historic March 7 speech will be played and documentaries on Bangabandhu’s life and works and Liberation War will be screened throughout the week at upazila levels.
Key streets and important establishments have also been illuminated.
Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television and other private TV channels and radio stations is set to air special programmes highlighting the significance of the day.
Special discussions have also been arranged on children’s health awareness, nutrition and foods.
The ruling Awami League (AL) has drawn up elaborate programmes to celebrate the day.
The programmes include hoisting the national and party flags atop all AL offices across the country including Bangabandhu Bhaban and AL’s Bangabandhu Avenue central office at 6:30 am on, placing of wreaths at Bangabandhu’s portrait at 11.30 am.
A delegation of the party’s central working committee will pay homage to Bangabandhu by placing wreaths at his mausoleum at Tungipara in Gopalganj and join a doa mahfil there at 10am.
AL Presidium Members Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Muhammad Faruk Khan, Shajahan Khan and Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Organizing Secretary SM Kamal Hossain, Labor and Manpower Affairs Secretary Habibur Rahman Siraj, Deputy Office Secretary Sayem Khan, Central Working Committee Members Anisur Rahman, Sahabuddin Faraji and Syed Abdul Awal Shamim will join the programmes at Tungipara.
The leaders of AL will join the programme of National Implementation Committee for Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s Birth Centenary at the National Parade Square at 3.30pm.
Doa mahfil (special prayers) have been arranged at the mosques across the country including Baitul Mukarram National Mosque after Johr prayers.
Christian community members have arranged special prayers at Tejgaon Church at 8am and Mirpur Baptist Church (3/7-a Senpara Parbata, Mirpur-10) at 9am, Buddhist community members are set to hold prayers at International Buddhist Monastery at Merul Badda at 10am and Hindu community members have arranged prayers at Dhakeshwari National Temple at 11.30am.
