The nation is getting prepared to celebrate the golden jubilee of the Independence of Bangladesh and the birth centenary of Bangabandhu through a 10-day long colourful programme, said official sources in the government.
The programme scheduled to be held from March 17 to March 26 at the National Parade Square in capital Dhaka is expected to be held in participation with a large number of world leaders and renowned personalities.
As part of the 10-day long programme, two major events will be held on March 17 and on March 26. The programme on March 17 will be held centering the birthday of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and another will be held on March 26 centring the 50th year of the Independence of Bangladesh.
It is widely known that there was a 66-day long general holiday in the country due to COVID-19 pandemic since the month of March last year. That is why many major events including the inauguration ceremony of Mujib's centenary could not be held as had been planned.
However, now the nation and the people of the country as well as the government almost have overcome the situation created due to the pandemic. The government is now determined to celebrate both the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation and well as the golden jubilee of the Independence of Bangladesh.
Officials concerned of the Foreign Ministry said, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said, King of Belgium and many other international leaders of the world are expected to join the programmes.
Alongside the government, different political parties, various socio-cultural organisations and other agencies have also chalked out various programmes centering both the occasions.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said he has invited Oman's sultan to visit Bangladesh on the occasions. He made the invitation during a telephone conversation with his Oman counterpart Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Al-Busaidi on.
Besides, sources said, Bob Dylan, the lone alive surviving artist of the ‘Concert for Bangladesh’ which was held at Madison Square in USA during the War of Liberation in Bangladesh, is also expected to join the programme.
As per the plan, the Cabinet Division, Ministry of Public Administration and Ministry of Local Government will send instructions to organise the program centrally in Dhaka as well as in all district, upazila and city corporations across the country from March 17 to March 26 at the initiative of local administration.
Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury, the chief coordinator of the committee to celebrate the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, said that many important and influential as well as international level leaders and renowned personalities are expected to join the functions.
It should be mentioned that Norendra Modi was scheduled to visit Dhaka on March 17 to join the birth centenary functions last year. The visit was, however, postponed due to COVID-19 outbreak.
Moreover, Turkish Anadolu Agency, quoting Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, on December 23 said that Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan might come to Dhaka on March 26, 2021 on the occasion of the ‘Golden Jubilee’ of the Independence of Bangladesh.
Referring to Erdogan’s possible visit to Bangladesh on March 26, 2021, to mark the golden jubilee of independence of Bangladesh, the Turkish Minister said that it largely depends on the pandemic situation.
It is known to all that the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was born on March 17 in 1920 at Tungipara of Gopalganj while the Independence of the Bangladesh was announced on March 26 in 1971. After a nine-month long war against Pakistan, the Bengali nation achieved its victory on December 16 in 1971.
