Health and family welfare minister Md Nasim hands over award to a winner of a children art competition marking the National Children’s Day and the birth anniversary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at BSMMU in Dhaka on Thursday. — New Age photo
The 96th anniversary of birth of the country’s founding president, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was observed through elaborate programmes across the country on Thursday.
The National Children’s Day was also observed on the day to mark his birth anniversary. The day was a public holiday.
In observance of the day, different socio-political and cultural organisations, including the ruling Awami League and its associated bodies, organised ‘doa mahfil,’ discussions, cultural functions and screening of documentaries.
The day’s programmes began with hoisting of national and party flags at 6:30am atop Bangabandhu Bhaban and all the party offices.
The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, first placed wreaths at the portrait of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, on road number 32 in the city’s Dhanmondi at 7:00am.
Sheikh Hasina, daughter of Sheikh Mujib and also Awami League president, flanked by the senior party leaders and cabinet members, placed another wreath on behalf of the party, as tributes to the great leader.
Later, leaders of Awami League and its associated bodies placed wreaths.
Then, around 10:00am, the president of the country, Md Abdul Hamid and the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina placed wreaths at the grave of the founding president at Bangabandhu Mausoleum Complex at Tungipara, on the occasion of his birth anniversary.
They stood in solemn silence for some time as the last post was played on the bugle. A contingent of Bangladesh Armed Forces presented the guard of honour on the occasion.
President, prime minister and other senior leaders and cabinet members offered ‘Fateha’ and ‘Munajat,’ seeking eternal peace for the departed soul of Sheikh Mujib.
Sheikh Hasina also attended a children’s rally, book fair and a cultural function at Tungipara on the occasion.
Addressing the rally, she said that the anti-liberation forces were still cooking up conspiracy against Bangladesh but their scheme could not confuse the common people any more.
Terming children as the future leaders of the nation, the prime minister asked them to listen to and show respect to their parents, teachers and seniors. She advised them to study regularly to turn into good citizens.
Apart from national programmes, children’s gatherings, rallies, discussions and cultural functions were organised by different organisations in the capital and elsewhere in the country. A number of documentary films on the War of Independence and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman were also screened.
Bangladesh missions abroad also organised various programmes to observe the day.
All the public hospitals offered free treatment for patients from 10:00am to 12:00pm.
Source: New Age
