UNESCO to celebrate ‘Mujib Barsha’ jointly with Bangladesh: PM

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation will jointly celebrate ‘Mujib Barsha’ with Bangladesh next year, marking the birth centenary of the country’s founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina announced this while chairing a preparatory meeting on celebration of the birth centenary of Sheikh Mujib held at Ganabhaban Wednesday evening.

Speaking at the meeting, education minister Dipu Moni said that the UNESCO made the decision unanimously to celebrate ‘Mujib Barsha’ jointly with Bangladesh at the plenary session of its 40th General Assembly in its headquarters in Paris on November 25.

The minister said that UNESCO secretary general Audrey Azoulay and General Assembly president Altay Cengizer as well as chairpersons of different committees and commissions attended the plenary session.

It was informed at the preparatory meeting on celebration of Sheikh Mujib’s birth centenary that the opening ceremony of the yearlong national programmes on ‘Mujib Barsha’ will be held at the National Parade Square in Dhaka on March 17.

Information minister Hasan Mahmud told the meeting, ‘The function will have to be linked with our culture and heritage.’

He said, ‘Our aim is to highlight our culture, and from that outlook, Noor Bhai [Asaduzzaman Noor] and Lucky Bhai [Liakat Ali Lucky] have been given the responsibility.’

At the outset of the meeting, birth centenary National Implementation Committee chief coordinator Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury highlighted various aspects of the birth centenary programmes through a power point presentation.

He said the inaugural function will begin at 4 pm on March 17 at the National Parade Square.

The function includes fly past under the Armed Forces Division, performing instrumental songs by 100 artistes, performing of theme songs in Bangla and English, 55-minute cultural function and laser show, Kamal said.

He said, ‘Sraddha Smarak’ will be handed over to prime minister Sheikh Hasina and Bangabandhu’s younger daughter Sheikh Rehana.’

Kamal said that president Abdul Hamid and prime minister Sheikh Hasina would deliver their speeches at the opening function and later the prime minister would inaugurate the programmes of Mujib Barsha.

National professors Rafiqul Islam and Anisuzzaman, former finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, foreign minister AK Abdul Momen, housing and public works minister SM Rezaul Karim, prime minister’s advisers HT Imam, Gowher Rizvi, Towfik-e-Elahi Chowdhury and Salman Fazlur Rahman, state minister for cultural affairs KM Khalid, state minister for foreign affairs Md Shahriar Alam, state minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak, cabinet secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam, Asaduzzaman Noor, Prime Minister’s Office secretary Sajjadul Hassan, principal staff officer the Armed Forces Division Lt Gen Md Mahfuzur Rahman and other members of the National Implementation Committee were present at the meeting.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net