Mujib birth centenary celebrations illuminate Dhaka skyline

Mujib’s birth centenary celebrations, skipping mass gatherings amid corona virus infection scare, kicked off through synchronized fireworks across the nation at 8:30 pm Tuesday followed by nationwide broadcast of president Abdul Hamid and prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s address. scare.

In his address, president Hamid said the ideals of Sheikh Mujib would help the new generation in nation-building tasks.

‘Bangabandhu is not amidst us . . . but his ideals are our eternal source of inspiration,’ said Hamid in his televised address.

In her address, PM Sheikh Hasina called upon the new generation to build themselves as worthy citizens by following Mujib’s ideology and said that the people of the country will stay awake with his ideology and uphold the flag given by him forever.

‘You are lying near the lap of your parents under the green-covered ground in Tungipara. Father, sleep in peace … your Bangladesh is marching ahead at an indomitable pace and will go ahead further,’ she said.

Recorded messages of heads of state and government, including the prime ministers of India, Nepal, Bhutan and the secretaries general of the United Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation were broadcasted.

‘Bangabandhu means a leader of courage, a man of conviction, a sage of peace, a champion of justice, equality and dignity, a hand of defiance against brutality, and a shield against coercion,’ Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his  recorded message.

 ‘Today, it gives me great happiness, when I see people of Bangladesh dedicating themselves day and night towards making their dear nation, Shonar Bangla, as dreamt by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,’ he said.

UN secretary general António Guterres said that the United Nations would continue to work with Bangladesh to help achieve the agenda 2030 for sustainable development and tackle the climate crisis.

‘Bangladesh is a close and valued partner for the United Nations,’ he said in a video message marking Sheikh Mujib’s the birth centenary celebrations.

The UN chief mentioned that vision and goals of Bangabandhu would continue to inspire many.

He mentioned Bangladesh as a major troop contributing country and a leading voice on sustainable development.

In his 45-second brief video message the UN chief also described Bangladesh as a generous host country for Rohingyas.

In a message on the occasion of the inauguration, Sheikh Rehana, younger daughter of Sheikh Mujib, urged all to take a vow to bring smiles on the faces of the distressed people and build a beautiful and prosperous country.

In the capital, the country’s founding president’s mute centenary celebrations was organized in front of Bangabandhu Bhaban and ruling Awami League’s central office at  Bangabandhu Avenue, Rabindra Sarobar, Hatirjheel, Suhrawardy Udyan, Dhaka University Teacher-Student Centre as well as on the Jatiya Sangsad premises.

Earlier in the day, president M Abdul Hamid and prime minister Sheikh Hasina  paid homage to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by laying wreaths at his grave at Gopalganj.

After laying the wreaths, they stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to Sheikh Mujib as the buglers played the tunes of the last post.

A smart contingent drawn from the Bangladesh Army, the Navy and the Air Force gave the honour guard.

Abdul Hamid and Sheikh Hasina offered Fateha and offered munajat seeking eternal peace of Sheikh Mujib and the other martyrs of the August 15 carnage.

Sheikh Rehana, the younger daughter of Sheikh Mujib, PM’s daughter Saima Wazed Hossain, Sheikh Rehana’s son Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby and his wife Peppi Siddiq were present on the occasion.

Awami League advisory council member Amir Hossain Amu, speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, liberation war affairs minister AKM Mozammel Haque, AL general secretary Obaidul Quader, several AL presidium members, ministers and others were present.

Flanked by senior leaders of the party, Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League president, placed another wreath at Sheikh Mujib’s grave on behalf of her party.

The prime minister flew to Tungipara after placing wreaths at Mujib’s portrait in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum on Dhanmondi Road No 32 in the capital.

Sheikh Mujib’s birthday is celebrated  across the country as the National Children’s Day for years.

Different political, non-political, government, non-government and socio cultural organizations hosted various programmes to celebrate the day.

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday tweeted to pay, ‘Tributes to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on his birth anniversary.’

Modi, who was set to join the birth centenary celebrations in Dhaka as the chief guest rescheduled his visit amidst COVID-19 scare.

Bhutanese prime minister Lotay Tshering greeted Sheikh Hasina and the people of Bangladesh on the occasion over phone Tuesday afternoon, PM’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim told Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha.

After placing a wreath at the portrait of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Dhanmondi in the capital, AL general secretary Obaidul Quader said that those who hatched the conspiracy to erase the name of Sheikh Mujib from the country’s history would be wiped out.

He said under the dynamic leadership of prime minister Sheikh Hasina, the country was irresistibly marching on the path of development.

The National Impementation Committee of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's 100th Anniversary Celebrations organised the nationwide fireworks.

On March 17, 1920, Sheikh Mujib was born at Tungipara,  Gopalganj.

Mujib with his courage, uncompromising leadership and ceaseless epic struggles inspired the Bangali nation to fight exploitations and repression by Pakistani ruling elite and led the country to clinch independence through the heroic Liberation War in 1971.

On August 15, 1975, Mujib was assassinated, along with all but his two daughters by a group of disgruntled army personnel.

Fireworks illuminate skyline at Hatirjheel in Dhaka marking the celebrations of the birth centenary of the country’s founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on Tuesday. —Sourav Laskar

Fireworks illuminate skyline at Motijheel in Dhaka marking the celebrations of the birth centenary of the country’s founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on Tuesday. —Indrajit Ghosh

 

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net