The programmes will be arranged maintaining health protocol amid the Covid-19 outbreak. Local and foreign guests will participate in these programmes.

Chief Coordinator of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Birth Centenary Celebration National Implementation Committee Dr Kamal Abdul Naser said this at a press briefing in the city’s International Mother Language Institute on Friday afternoon.

All preparations have already been completed following the directives of the Prime Minister to arrange the 10-day programme with the theme of ‘Mujib Chirontan’ on the occasion of Bangabandhu’s birth centenary on March 17 and the golden jubilee of the Independence on March 26, he said. 

Among the programmes, there will be separate theme-based discussion, cultural programme, audio-visual and other presentations to pay tribute to Bangabandhu every day, he said.

President Abdul Hamid will be present in the 10-day programme on March 17, 22 and 26, while Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on March 17, 19, 22, 24 and 26, said Dr Naser.

Presidents and heads of the governments of different countries will be present as guests of honour at the programmes on March 17, 19, 22, 24 and 26.

President of the Maldives Ibrahim Mohamed Solih will be present at the programme as the guest of honour on March 17, while Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa on March 19, President of Nepal Bidya Devi Bhandari on March 22, Prime Minister of Bhutan Lotay Tshering on March 24 and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi on March 26.

Besides, recorded speeches from presidents and heads of government of different countries, chiefs of international organisations and prominent persons will be screened in the events of other five days.  

Television channels, online media and social media will broadcast the programmes live every day, said Dr Naser.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will deliver welcome speeches at the programme on March 17, while Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on March 18, OIC Secretary General Yousef bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen on March 20, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on March 22, Pope Francis on March 24, South Korean Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun and Japanese friend of Bangladesh Takashi Hayakawa’s son Osamu Hayakawa on March 25.

The programme will begin at 4:30pm and conclude at 8pm on March 17, 19, 22, 24 and 26. On the other five days, they will start at 5:16pm and end at 8pm.

President of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Birth Centenary Celebration National Implementation Committee National Professor Rafiqul Islam, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, former minister Asaduzzaman Noor and state minister for foreign affairs Shahriar Alam were present at the press briefing, said a PID handout.