10-day Mujib Borsho and independence celebrations at Parade Square from March 17: home minister
The government has chalked out a 10-day long programme at the National Parade Square to mark the birth centenary of Bangabandhu and the golden jubilee of independence, which will be attended by heads of states and governments of different countries.
The celebrations will be held from March 17-26, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told reporters following a meeting of the security sub-committee on the occasion of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the Secretariat.
The events will be graced by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sri Lankan President Nandasena Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Nepali President Bidya Devi Bhandari, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam said.
Officials at the foreign ministry said the Maldives president will visit Bangladesh from March 17 to 19, Sri Lankan president from March 19-20, Nepal president from March 22-23 and the Indian PM will visit from March 26-27.
Other than the four heads of states and governments, other high-profile guests are expected to send video messages on the occasion.
Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury, chief coordinator of the Birth Centenary Celebration National Implementation Committee, said they are avoiding large-scale public gatherings because of hygiene regulations.
He said the invited guests at the in-person events will have to undergo mandatory Covid-19 tests and carry a negative report to attend the event. The certificate of the test will be valid for 48 hours.
"We must maintain hygiene rules strictly and prove that we have the ability to perform in such a situation," he said.
About 500 guests will be invited from home and abroad to attend the event, which will also be broadcast so that people across the globe can see it.
The invited guests will attend the programme in person on four days, while events of the other six days will be broadcast live.
Special arrangements will be made for the heads of the states and governments attending the celebrations.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said the government has planned tight security on the occasion.
Apart from security at the National Parade Ground, necessary security measures will be taken during the movement of the foreign dignitaries, diplomats and other eminent personalities from home and abroad, and around the venues where they will stay, the minister said.
"There will be intelligence surveillance on all occasions. There will be a control room to coordinate security measures. Moreover, 999 services will be available at all times to prevent any untoward situation. All utility services starting from electricity will be provided at the venue," said Kamal.
Security arrangements will also be made in the year-round programmes at the divisional, district, upazila and municipality and union levels.
Asked about the government's plan to manage traffic during the movement of foreign guests, the home minister said the security forces and police chief will work on it.
"Everyone will be informed precisely how the traffic will move and how long a road will be closed," Kamal said.
Answering a query, the home minister said he does not expect any untoward situation centring the arrival of Indian PM Narendra Modi.
"We have no information about the issue. We think everyone loves Bangladesh, loves Father of the Nation Bangabandhu. We don't think anyone will disturb the celebrations of Father of the Nation's birth centenary," he said.
"It is a democratic country. Everyone has freedom of speech. Many times, many people say many things, which makes no sense. I don't think there will be any such situation. We want everyone's cooperation to celebrate the Father of the Nation festival," he added.
State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain, Inspector General of Police Benazir Ahmed, director general of Rapid Action Battalion Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun and other officials were present at the meeting.
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