Mujib Borsho celebrations to launch today
The nation is set to celebrate the inauguration of Mujib Borsho today, with programmes revised in light of the recent coronavirus cases.
"The celebrations will begin with fireworks at 8pm on Suhrawardy Udyan tomorrow, marking the moment of Bangabandhu's birth," Dr Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury, chief coordinator of the birth centenary celebration national implementation committee, told a media briefing yesterday at the International Mother Language Institute (IMLI).
Organisers selected Suhrawardy Udyan for the inauguration, considering the site to be historic as Bangabandhu had delivered his momentous March 7, 1971 speech there.
Chowdhury said the fireworks would be immediately followed by a recorded two-hour long inaugural programme, including addresses to the nation by President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The programme will be aired on all electronic media, including Bangladesh Television (BTV), Bangladesh Betar, online and social media simultaneously, he added.
Bangabandhu's younger daughter Sheikh Rehana will also express her feelings on Bangabandhu during the programme, he added.
Chowdhury said presidents and prime ministers of different countries, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Nepalese President Bidhya Devi Bhandari, Bhutanese Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering, Secretary General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres and Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Yousef bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen will deliver messages on the occasion.
The inaugural ceremony will end with another fireworks display at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad, Chowdhury added.
Bangabandhu's birthday is a public holiday, and is also observed as National Children's Day.
The countdown for the birth centenary celebrations began on January 10, coinciding with Bangabandhu's homecoming in 1972 as the founder of the newly-born Bangladesh, after nine months of captivity in Pakistan.
Organisers said the global coronavirus pandemic forced them to scale down
the inauguration fanfare, revising the schedule trying to keep most programmes indoors and discourage public gatherings.
The president and the premier would lay wreaths at Bangabandhu's mausoleum at Tungipara in Gopalganj this morning, and offer prayers, as per original schedule.
Under the original plan, the celebration was set to be opened at the National Parade Ground, with thousands of people in attendance.
A scheduled gathering of children at Tungipara and in primary schools across Bangladesh tomorrow were also scrapped due to the coronavirus cases.
Different socio-cultural and political organisations from grassroots to national levels, ministries and divisions have drawn up programmes to celebrate the birth centenary opening.
Ruling Awami League has drawn up revised programmes including hoisting
party flags atop all AL offices across the country including Bangabandhu Bhaban and AL's Bangabandhu Avenue central office at 6am today, followed by placing wreaths at his portrait.
Besides, a delegation of the party's central working committee will join AL
President Sheikh Hasina at Bangabandbu's mausoleum at Tungipara.
Special prayers will be arranged at all religious institutions across the
Country, while orphans and destitute people will be distributed special meals.
Marking Mujib Borsho, Bangladesh Bank (BB) will issue regular currency
notes and commemorative notes of Taka 200 tomorrow.
Besides, the central bank will also issue Taka 100 denomination commemorative gold and silver coins and Taka 100 commemorative notes on the same day.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has also taken an initiative to plant around one crore saplings across the country to mark the occasion.
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