Bangabandhu's birthday today
The 98th birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is being celebrated today in a befitting manner.
The day is celebrated as the National Children's Day. It is also a public holiday.
On this day in 1920, the nation's architect was born in Tungipara of Gopalganj.
Through his dynamic leadership, Bangabandhu had organised the Bangalee nation to fight against exploitation and repression by the Pakistani rulers. The movement culminated in independent Bangladesh through the nine-month Liberation War in 1971.
On August 15, 1975, the great leader along with most of his family members was assassinated by a disgruntled group of army men.
Different socio-political organisations, including the Awami League and its associated bodies, have drawn up various programmes to observe the day.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will place wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu at Bangabandhu Bhaban in the capital's Dhanmondi area at 7:00am.
President Abdul Hamid and the PM will pay homage to Bangabandhu by placing wreaths at his grave in Tungipara at 10:00am.
Hasina will release a commemorative postage stamp on Sheikh Russel, the youngest son of Bangabandhu, and unveil the cover of a children's book titled “Amader Chhoto Russel Sona”.
She will address a children's rally, discussion meeting, cultural programme and open a book fair. She will also visit a painting exhibition of children and distribute sewing machines among the disadvantaged.
A Qurankhani and a milad mahfil will be held at the Baitul Mukarram national mosque.
The AL will organise a discussion at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre at 3:00pm tomorrow, which will be attended by the PM.
Meanwhile, the president and the prime minister have issued separate messages on the occasion.
In his message, President Abdul Hamid said, “We will have to build our young generation with the spirit of noble qualities so that they can materialise Bangabandhu's dream of transforming the country into Sonar Bangla [Golden Bengal]. We have to put in our sincere efforts to flourish the intrinsic values of our children from their very childhood.”
He urged all to groom the new generation as enlightened citizens through providing proper education and knowledge so that they can make themselves as worthy citizens and love the country and its people.
Hasina in her statement said Bangabandhu's charismatic leadership and personality had brought the whole nation under one umbrella. “As a result, we got the independence and sovereign Bangladesh and the Bangalee nationalism flourished.”