The country is set to celebrate the 102nd birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the National Children's Day 2022 on Thursday in a befitting manner.
On this day in 1920, Bangabandhu, the vivacious leader of the Bangalee nation, the architect of independent Bangladesh and the greatest Bangalee of all times, was born in a respected Muslim family at Tungipara village of the then Gopalganj sub-division, now a district.
He was the third among four daughters and two sons of his parents – Sheikh Lutfur Rahman and Saira Khatun.
The nation will celebrate the day through extensive programmes with fanfare and gaiety.
Bangladesh missions abroad have also chalked out elaborate programmes to celebrate the day.
In observance of the day, President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have issued separate messages.
The day is a public holiday.
Meanwhile, the government has extended Mujib Barsho, which began from the 100th birth anniversary of Bangabandhu, till March 31, 2022.
Marking the anniversary, National Implementation Committee for Birth Centenary Celebration of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has taken up a special programme titled "Tungipara: Hridoye Pitribhumi".
The programme includes paying tributes to Bangabandhu by placing wreaths at his mausoleum at Tungipara at 12:30pm. A discussion and cultural function will be arranged at 2:30pm.
Bangladesh Awami League and different social and cultural organizations have also drawn elaborate programmes marking the birth anniversary.
The ruling party will hold a weeklong programme from Thursday with the title "Hridoye Pitribhumi".
National and party flags will be hoisted atop all AL offices across the country including its central office at Bangabandhu Avenue in Dhaka at dawn.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will pay tributes to Bangabandhu by placing a wreath at his portrait in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi 32 at 7am.
Later, AL will pay tributes to Bangabandhu by placing wreaths at his portrait at 7:30am.
President Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will lay wreaths at the mausoleum of Bangabandhu at Tungipara in Gopalganj. The premier and central leaders will join the programme at Tungipara at 2:30pm.
Another discussion will be held at Tungipara on Friday.
A delegation of the party's central working committee will pay homage to Bangabandhu by placing a wreath at his mausoleum at Tungipara in Gopalganj and join a doa mahfil there at 10:30am.
Doa mahfil will be arranged at the mosques across the country including Baitul Mukarram National Mosque after Zohr prayers.
Besides, special prayers will be offered at all religious institutions including temples, churches and pagodas on the occasion.
The Christian community members will arrange special prayers at Tejgaon Church at 8am and Mirpur Baptist Church (3/7-A Senpara Parbata, Mirpur-10) at 9am, the Buddhist community members to hold prayers at International Buddhist Monastery at Merul Badda at 10am while the Hindu community members will arrange prayers at Dhakeshwari National Temple at 11 am.
In line with the activities of the AL Central Working Committee, party's General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has urged the leaders and workers of the party, its associate and like-minded bodies to celebrate the birth anniversary of Bangabandhu and National Children's Day across the country with maintaining the health guidelines.
Bangladesh Chhatra League will hold its programme marking the birth centenary and golden jubilee of the country's independence on March 19 while Jatiya Sramik League on March 20, Krishak League on March 21, Awami Jubo League on March 22, Jubo Mohila League on March 23, Mohila Awami League on March 24 and Awami Swechchhasebak League on March 25 and Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad will observe their programme from March 19-25.
Apart from these programmes, a folk fair will be held from March 19-25 at Gopalganj Sadar.
Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television and other private TV channels and radio stations will air special programmes highlighting the significance of the day in the life of Bangalees.
