Bangabandhu’s Birth Centenary: World leaders to take part in programmes

World leaders and other eminent personalities will visit Bangladesh to attend various programmes to be held marking Bangabandhu’s birth centenary throughout the year.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen yesterday told this to reporters after a Bangabandhu Birth Centennial Celebration Sub-committee on International Affairs’ meeting held at the capital’s International Mother Language Institute.

The expected guests are Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, former Indian president Pranab Mukherjee, former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, President of Indian National Congress Sonia Gandhi, and OIC Secretary General Dr Yousef Al-Othaimeen.

“They will attend different programmes to be held through the year. The schedule is yet to be finalised,” said Momen.

The countdown of Mujib Borsho, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s birth centenary, will start on January 10. The celebration will begin on March 17.

To celebrate the year, Bangladesh missions across the globe will also arrange seminars, art exhibitions and other programmes, said the minister.

Murals of the Father of the Nation will also be set up at some of the missions, he added.

“Bangabandhu was a friend of the deprived people of the world. By following the path shown by him, Bangladesh is now a model of peace.”

The government is also encouraging Bangladeshi expatriates in different countries to organise events in the year to uphold the ideals of Bangabandhu, he said.

Meanwhile, asked about the safety of Bangladeshis in Iraq following an airstrike in Baghdad that killed an Iranian general, the minister said Bangladeshis would be safe as the attacks were not on civilians.

“There are some two lakh Bangladeshis in Iraq, and they have been advised to remain indoors unless there is any special need,” he said.

Bangladesh has adopted a “balanced policy” for maintaining “friendship to all and malice towards none,” he said.

“We want peace everywhere.”