DHAKA, March 17, 2022 (BSS) - The nation today celebrated the 102nd birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the National Children's Day-2022 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 Gopalganj sub-division, now district.

   He was the third among four daughters and two sons of his parents - Sheikh Lutfur Rahman and Saira Khatun.

 Different political, social and cultural organizations and government bodies arranged different programmes marking the birth anniversary and the Nation Children’s Day.

  The programme included placing of wreaths at Bangabandhu’s portrait at
Dhanmondi road number 32 in Dhaka and his mazar in Tungipara, Gopalganj, cutting of cakes, doa and milad mahfil, munajat, prayers, discussions, processions, cultural functions, voluntary blood donations, exhibition of documentaries, drawing competitions and distribution of foods among destitute and so on.

Health guidelines were followed during the celebration of the programme.
Ruling Awami League’s programme began with hoisting of national and party flags atop all party offices including central office at Bangabandhu Avenue here.   

President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today paid rich tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on his 102nd birth anniversary and the National Children’s Day-2022.
 
The president and the premier in person paid their homage by placing wreaths at the mazar (mausoleum) of Bangabandhu at Tungipara in Gopalganj this morning.

President Hamid first laid a wreath at Bangabandhu’s mazar followed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

After placing the wreaths, they stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memory of the Father of the Nation.

A smartly turned out contingent drawn from Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Forces gave an honour guard on the occasion.

The president and the prime minister in-person paid homage to the Father of the Nation at Tungipara for the first time after March 17, 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic situation.

Flanked by senior leaders of her party, Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League President, placed another wreath at the mazar of Bangabandhu on behalf of the party.

Cabinet members, PM's advisers, parliament members and senior leaders of
Bangladesh Awami League were present.

Abdul Hamid and Sheikh Hasina offered Fateha and joined a munajat seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of Bangabandhu as well as other martyrs of the August 15 carnage.

The Father of the Nation’s grandchildren – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and PM’s younger sister Sheikh Rehana’s son Radwan Mujib Siddiq – were also present.

Earlier, the Prime Minister has paid rich tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing a wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi Road No. 32 in Dhaka.

After placing the wreath, she stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memory of the country’s founding father.

A special munajat was offered seeking eternal peace of the departed soul of Bangabandhu and his deceased family members.

Later, Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury also paid tributes to Bangabandhu by placing a wreath at his portrait.

Awami League leaders led by party’s General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader paid tributes to Bangabandhu by placing wreath at his portrait.

AL Presidium Members Begum Matia Chowdhury and Shajahan Khan, Joint General Secretary and Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, Organizing Secretary Ahmed Hossain, Liberation War Affairs Secretary Mrinal Kanti Das, Publicity and Publications Secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap, Labour Affairs Secretary Habibur Rahman Siraj,

 Office Secretary Barrister Biplab Barua, Forest and Environment Secretary Delwar Hossain and Central Working Committee Member Dr Mustafa Jalal Mahiuddin were present among others.   

 Later, AL’s Dhaka city north and south units, Awami Jubo League, Awami
Swechchhasebak League, Bangladesh Krishak League, Mahila Awami League, Jubo Mahila League, Chhatra League, Sramik League, Tanti League, Matsyajibi League, Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote, Bangabandhu Parishad, different political, social and cultural organizations and professional bodies placed wreaths at Bangabandhu’s portrait.

   National Implementation Committee for Birth Centenary Celebration of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in collaboration with the Women and Children Affairs Ministry arranged a special programme titled "Tungipara: Hridoye Pitribhumi" at Bangabandhu Mausoleum Complex, Tungipara in Gopalganj on the occasion of 102nd birth anniversary of Father of Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the National Children’s Day-2022.

The programme featured discussion and cultural soiree. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina joined the programme.
 
Awami League’s weeklong programme also began today. Marking the birth centenary and golden jubilee of the country's independence
Bangladesh Chhatra League will hold its programme 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 to 25.
 
 Apart from these programmes, a folk fair (Lokoj Mela) will be held from March 19-25 at Gopalganj Sadar.

Marking the birth anniversary, the Islamic Foundation (IF) organized programmes at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque on the occasion of the 102nd birth anniversary of Father of Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and National Children's Day.

The programmes included holding discussions and recitation from the Holy Quran and offering special prayers.

Munajat were offered seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of Bangabandhu and other martyred family members.
    
Doa mahfils were also arranged at the mosques across the country after Zohr prayers.
   
Besides, special prayers were offered at all religious institutions including temples, churches and pagodas on the occasion.
   
Christian community members arranged special prayers at Tejgaon Church and Mirpur Baptist Church (3/7-A Senpara Parbata, Mirpur-10), Buddhist community members held prayers at International Buddhist Monastery at Merul Badda and Hindu community members arranged prayers at Dhakeshwari National Temple at 11am.

The day was a public holiday.

 Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television and other private TV channels and radio stations aired special programmes highlighting the significance of the day in the life of Bangalees while national dailies published special supplements.

  Bangladesh missions abroad also celebrate Bangabandhu’s birth anniversary and National Children’s Day amid different programmes.
     
The government has extended Mujib Barsho, which began from the 100th birth anniversary of Bangabandhu, till March 31 this year.