The concluding ceremony of the 10-day grand celebration of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s Birth Centenary and the Golden Jubilee of 1971 Independence was held at the National Parade Square today with a vow to materialize Bangabandhu’s unfinished dream and take the country to a new height of development.

President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina joined the ceremony along with visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi this afternoon.

At the beginning of the colourful function, the national anthem was sung by “Chhayanaut” artistes, while the verses of the Holy Quran and scripts of followers of other faiths were recited.

Title animation video on the theme of the 10-day programme ‘Mujib Chirantan’ was screened highlighting the development of Bangladesh and the golden jubilee logo was unveiled afterwards. Ramendu Majumdar and Pradip Chakraborty designed the logo.

The golden jubilee theme song was sung at the grand ceremony.

Apart from the Bangladesh president and the prime minister and Narendra Modi, Bangabandhu’s younger daughter Sheikh Rehana, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque and Chief Coordinator of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Birth Centenary Celebration National Implementation Committee Dr Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury were present on the decorated dais.

Dr Kamal Chowdhury delivered the welcome speech at the function.

Congratulatory video messages from the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson were broadcast.

The messages of greetings from US President Joe Biden, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan were read out by the ambassadors and charge d’ affaires of the respective countries in Dhaka.

Accompanied by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangabandhu’s younger daughter Sheikh Rehana received “Mahatma Gandhi Peace Prize 2020” for Bangabandhu from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion.

Indian government conferred the Gandhi Peace Prize 2020 on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in recognition of his outstanding contribution to social, economic and political transformation through non-violent and other Gandhian methods.

Bangabandhu’s younger daughter Sheikh Rehana handed over the “Sraddha Swarak” (souvenir of tributes) to the guest of honour Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A recorded video of the eye-catching flying past of the Bangladesh Air Force was showed.

The first session of the function was ended with the speech of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

At the cultural function, the newly formed raga titled ‘Moitree’ of renowned Indian classical music maestro Pundit Ajay Chakraborty which was dedicated to Bangabandhu, theatrical choreography titled ‘Father gave independent homeland, daughter gave light’ and three songs titled ‘Bindu to Sindhu’ were performed.

The function was concluded with a concert and choreography styled ‘Bangladesh’s Roar: Let the whole world hear today’ as well as with colorful cultural function and spectacular fireworks and laser shows.

The grand celebration of the birth centenary of Bangabandhu and the golden jubilee of country’s independence, which marked the physical attendance of five heads of states and governments and the virtual attendance of other global leaders, started on March 17 at the National Parade Square here.

Earlier, Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Nepalese President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Bhutanese Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering joined the grand celebration in person.

Video messages from heads of state and head of the government of different countries and various important personalities were aired at the 10-day celebration.

The main theme of the 10-day event was ‘Mujib Chirantan’ while each day was celebrated with separate themes.

‘Vengechho Duar Esechho Jotirmoy’ is the theme of March 17, ‘Mohakaler Torjoni’ for March 18, ‘Jotokal Robe Padma Jamuna’ for March 19, ‘Tarunner Alokshikha’ for March 20, ‘Dhongsostupe Jiboner Gan’ for March 21, ‘BanglarMati, Amar Mati’ for March 22, ‘Nari Mukti, Sammo o Swadhinata’ for March 23, Santi, Mukti o Manobotar Agrodoot’ for March 24 events, ‘Gonohottar Kalratri o Aloker Avijatra’ for March 25 and ‘Swadhinatar Panchash Bochhor o Agrogotir Subornorekha’ for March 26.

Five hundred guests from home and abroad joined each day’s functions at the Parade Ground on March 17, 19, 22, 24 and 26 following the health guidelines due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Major streets and key points across the country were illuminated with colourful lights as part of the festival while the television channels including the state-run BTV telecasted the 10-day programmes live on March 17, March 18, 20, 21, 23 and 25, alongside their streaming online and social media in view of the current situation of Covid-19.

The government will celebrate the ‘Mujib Borsho’ till 16 December this year marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Earlier, the government declared the ‘Mujib Borsho’ (Mujib Year) from 17 March 2020 to 26 March 2021. But, due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, the government has extended the celebration.