A 10-day long celebration of birth centenary of the founding father of the nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and the golden jubilee of the liberation of Bangladesh started in Bangladesh on Wednesday.
The celebration started on 17th March, the day of the birth anniversary of Bangabandhu, the undisputed leader of the Bangali nation, the architect of independent Bangladesh, on Wednesday and will end on 26th March, the Independence Day of Bangladesh.
The ceremony began in the afternoon in the capital’s Sher-E-Bangla Nagar National Parade Square with 100 children singing the national anthem. Famous Bangladeshi artists Sadi Mohammad, Shimul Yousuf, Rafiqul Alam, Syed Abdul Hadi, and Rezwana Choudhury Bannya performed several patriotic songs. All five of them sang “Shuno Ekti Mujiborer Theke”, a song praising Bangabandhu, together. The orchestral performance, featuring many artists, was led by Indian music director Debojyoti Mishra.
A tribute dance performance was presented by the Mamata Shankar Dance Company celebrating the camaraderie of Bangladesh and India over the years. A theatrical performance based on the life of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was also presented on the ceremony. The performance featured Bangabandhu’s encounter with Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy to his time in Baker Govt. Hostel located in Smith Lane Kolkata.
Maldives’ President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih arrived in Dhaka yesterday to join the celebration. He joined the ceremony along with President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The ceremony will also feature Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on March 19, Nepalese President Bidya Devi Bhandari on March 22, and Bhutanese Prime Minister Lotay Tshering on March 24.
Indian Prime Minister Modi also set to arrive in Bangladesh on a two-day visit to take part in the celebration on 26 March. During his visit he is expected to hold discussions with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on various state affairs.
Many world leaders including, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, OIC Secretary General Dr Yousef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, and South Korean Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun will deliver speech on this occasion.
Around 500 guests from both home and abroad are to attend the events. All the programs would be aired on national television channels, and social media.
