The celebrations began with fireworks at different venues across the country, including Suhrawardy Udyan, at 8pm marking the moment when Bangabandhu was born on March 17, 1920.

The inaugural ceremony titled ‘Muktir Mohanayak’ (Great Hero of Freedom) was aired on all the television channels of Bangladesh after the firework.

Opening the show, 100 children sang the National Anthem and Dhonno Mujib Dhonno, a song dedicated to the Father of the Nation.

Later, 100 renowned Bangladeshi singers performed the theme song of ‘Mujib Borsho’ along with Bangabandhu’s youngest daughter Sheikh Rehana.

The National Children’s Day was also observed on Tuesday marking the birth centenary of Bangabandhu.

The government declared the period from March 17, 2020 to March 26, 2021 as the ‘Mujib Borsho’ marking the birth centenary of Bangabandhu. Along with Bangladesh, the ‘Mujib Year’ is being celebrated globally with the initiative of Unesco.

The government had chalked out various programmes to be observed throughout the year.

However, the programmes have been rescheduled following the detection of coronavirus in Bangladesh.

The grand inaugural ceremony which was scheduled to be held at the National Parade Ground on Tuesday has been postponed and it will be held later.

The national flag and party’s flag were hoisted atop all party offices across the country in the morning.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid tributes to the Father of the Nation at Bangabandhu Museum at Dhanmondi and at Bangabandhu Mausoleum in Tungipara.

Besides, special prayers were offered at all mosques, temples and churches across the country.

Television and radio aired special programmes marking the day.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was born in Tungipara village of Gopalganj on March 17, 1920. While studying at Islamia College in Kolkata, he got involved in active politics.

Both while in and out of jail, Bangabandhu had led the Language Movement. On February 21, 1952 when Language Movement activists were killed, Bangabandhu was observing a hunger strike in jail.  

In continuation of the Language Movement, all major movements of Bangalees including the General Elections in 1970 and the War of Liberation in 1971 were led by the Father of the Nation.

When Bangabandhu was moving forward with an aim to build a Golden Bangladesh facing all obstacles, the defeated and anti-liberation war clique assassinated the Father of the Nation along with most of his family members on August 15, 1975.