Today, March 17, is the 104th birthday of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the architect of great independence. The day is being celebrated with national status as 'National Children's Day'. On the occasion of the day, President Md. Sahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave the message.
In his speech, the President said, Bangabandhu is the eternal source of inspiration for the Bengali nation. He was a symbol of principles and ideals in politics. If you want to know Bangladesh, you have to know about Bengali freedom struggle and liberation war, you have to know Bangabandhu. Embracing the spirit of the liberation war and the ideals of the father of the nation - let the nation move forward on the path of building a prosperous Bangladesh free from hunger and poverty, anchor in Bangabandhu's 'Golden Bangla'.
In his speech, the Prime Minister said, besides paying tribute to the Father of the Nation on the National Children's Day, the government is working to make the children of this country worthy citizens by following the life and ideals of the great leader. Today's children will be the smart population of the smart Bangladesh of 2041. Today's children will lead Bangladesh in the future. Irrespective of party affiliation, everyone should work together, inculcate patriotism in the minds of children - build their personality, develop creativity, make them self-confident and have humane qualities, he urged.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was born on March 17, 1920 at 8 pm in Tungipara village of Gopalganj subdivision of Faridpur district. This 'Khoka' of Sheikh clan's love gradually became Bengali's 'Mujib Bhai', 'Bangabandhu' and 'Father of the Nation'.
In continuation of previous years, various programs will be celebrated in the state on Bangabandhu's birthday and National Children's Day. The day has been declared a public holiday. The national flag will be hoisted in all government, semi-government, autonomous and private institutions and educational institutions of the country and in Bangladesh missions abroad. The day will also be celebrated with due dignity in Bangladesh embassies in other countries of the world.
On the occasion of the Father of the Nation's birthday and National Children's Day, the President will pay tribute by laying wreaths at Bangabandhu's mausoleum in Tungipara. Sahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Various social and political organizations have taken extensive programs on the occasion of the day. Public and private television and radio will broadcast special programs on this occasion.
Apart from this, a discussion meeting has been organized in Dhaka University on the occasion of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's 104th birth anniversary and National Children's Day. On Sunday (March 17), University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. ASM Maqsud Kamal will preside over the discussion meeting at Dhaka University's initiative at 11 am in the auditorium of Student-Teacher Center (TSC). Before the discussion session at 10 am, the Vice Chancellor will visit the painting competition organized by the Faculty of Fine Arts in the cafeteria of TSC.
Awami League has announced a two-day program to celebrate the birthday of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and National Children's Day with due dignity.
The program includes hoisting of national and party flags at Bangabandhu Bhavan, central office and all offices of the organization across the country on Sunday (March 17) at 6:30 am. Tribute to the portrait of the Father of the Nation at the premises of the historical Bangabandhu Bhavan on Road No. 32 in Dhanmondi at 7 am.
On this day at 10:30 AM in Tungipara, Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the leaders of the party will pay homage at the tomb of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, participate in Milad and Doa Mahfil and children's rally.
Apart from this, special prayer programs will be held nationwide in all religious institutions including mosques, temples, pagodas, churches. As part of this, prayer and milad mahfil in all mosques of the country including Bad Johar National Mosque Baitul Mukarram, Christian community at Mirpur Baptist Church at 6 pm, Sabuj Bagh Dharmarajik Buddhist Mahavihar at 10 am and Buddhist community at Merul Badda International Buddhist Vihar in the capital at 6 pm and Hindu community at Dhakeshwari National Temple at 11:30 am Organized prayer meetings.
Besides, Awami League discussion meeting will be held at Dhaka District Awami League Bhavan in Tejgaon on Monday (March 18) at 11 am. It will be chaired by Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
In a statement, Awami League General Secretary and Minister of Road Transport and Bridges Obaidul Quader said that Awami League has adopted a program in line with the Central Executive Parliament to celebrate the birthday of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and National Children's Day with due dignity, and the party and its affiliated organizations, leaders, supporters, well-wishers. And called upon the people of all walks of life.
On the occasion of the birth centenary of the father of the nation, the government declared that year as Mujib year from March 17, 2020. However, due to the corona virus in the country, Mujib year was first extended to 16 December 2021 and then extended to 31 March 2022.
Independence of Bangladesh came in 1971 at the end of 9 months long bloody liberation war at the hands of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the undisputed leader of the Bengali nation. This man who gave birth to a country on the world map was killed by some misguided army officers with his family at the age of 55. However, his two daughters Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana survived due to staying abroad.
The third child of Sheikh Lutfar Rahman and Saira Khatun couple 'Khoka' later became the leader of the liberation of the oppressed Bengali nation. Bangabandhu became due to deep political wisdom, self-sacrifice and extraordinary compassion for the people.
Bangabandhu was politically aware from his youth. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was imprisoned for the first time for joining the then anti-British movement while studying in eighth grade at the mission school in Gopalganj. After matriculation, while studying at Calcutta Islamia College, Hussain came close to political leaders like Shaheed Suhrawardy and Abul Hashim. In the company of these leaders, he established himself in the arena of politics as a student and youth.
His political career began in 1940 by joining the All India Muslim Students Federation. In 1946, he was elected as the General Secretary of Calcutta Islamia College (now Maulana Azad College) Students' Union.
Bangabandhu returned to Dhaka immediately after gaining independence from the British rule in 1947 and advanced with new political ideas. Formed the Chhatra League in 1948 with colleagues. When the Awami League was formed on June 23, 1949, Bangabandhu got the post of joint secretary.
Bangabandhu has moved the Bengali nation forward step by step towards the goal of freedom and armed liberation war by energizing the Bengali nation with the great mantra of liberation. This undisputed leader, who has been vocal throughout his life for the right of the Bengali nation, had to be imprisoned many times in his political life for taking a stand for justice.
He led every democratic and independence movement, including the language movement of 1952, the United Front elections of 1954, the anti-military movement of 1958, the 6-point movement of 1966 and later the 11-point movement and the popular uprising in 1969, and earned the title of Bangabandhu.
Under his courageous and visionary leadership, the Bengali nation began to prepare for the freedom movement step by step. Although Awami League won the general election in 1970, the military junta of Pakistan at that time did not hand over the power and started to persecute the Bengali people. After that, Bangabandhu transformed the autonomy movement through various setbacks first into independence movement and finally into freedom movement.
As a continuation of this movement and struggle, Bangabandhu started an unprecedented non-cooperation movement in March 1971. On March 7, in a historic speech at the then Race Course Maidan (now Suhrawardy Udyan), he thunderously declared, 'This time's struggle is our liberation struggle, this time's struggle is freedom's struggle'. In continuation of this, the liberation war started on March 26. The country became independent after 9 months of war.
In independent Bangladesh, Bangabandhu could not continue the work of nation building for a long time. When Bangabandhu started taking multi-faceted activities to achieve the economic liberation of the people of the war-torn country, at the very moment the forces defeated in the war of independence and the vested interests started a heinous conspiracy against him. As part of that conspiracy, he and his family were killed by some misguided army officers at their Dhanmondi residence on August 15, 1975.
