After the arrival of Bangabandhu’s daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the venue at 4:30pm, the audience will see a historic moment -- the landing of a aircraft symbolising the homecoming of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibbur Rahman.
There will be projection of light from the aircraft amid gun salute apart from symbolic reception and guard of honour.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will deliver speech formally inaugurating the Mujib Year countdown and unveiling the logo.
The mega celebration marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman engaging the international community will begin on March 17, 2020.
The government is giving much focus on its efforts to successfully hold a series of programmes marking the ‘Mujib Year’ at home and abroad keeping global focus on Rohingya issue unchanged for their early repatriation.
Some 2,000 guests and 10,000 spectators will be invited to join the programme, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said on January 1. Spectators are registering their names online.
The countdown clocks will be set up at 28 spots in 12 city corporations, at 53 districts and at Tungipara and Mujibnagar.
Bangladesh has received a long list of global leaders to become part of a series of programmes during the ‘Mujib Year’ the countdown of which begins on January 10, creating another milestone in Bangladesh history.
Global Guests
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Dr Yousef A Al-Othaimeen, former Indian President Pranab Mukherjee, former Indian National Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and former Unesco Director General Irina Bokova are among the global leaders.
“We want to be selective for the March 17 event. We’re in discussion to select who will be our guests on March 17,” said Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen.
Year-long Programmes
Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced that March 17, 2020 to March 17, 2021 would be celebrated as the the ‘Mujib Year’ across the country to mark the birth centenary of Bangabandhu.
Year-long programmes at home and abroad will be observed with the participation of the mass people at the government and party levels apart from engagement from Bangladesh’s foreign friends.
The ‘Mujib Borsho’ will be followed by the golden jubilee celebrations of the country’s independence in 2021.
Chief coordinator of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Birth Centenary Celebration National Implementation Committee is Dr Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury.
Dr Momen said there will be a series of events round the year with the participation of global leaders from various parts of the world.
The Foreign Minister said some of the global leaders have confirmed their participation officially while some made confirmation verbally.
Dr Momen said the government wants to spread the ideals of Bangabandhu across the world and Bangladesh’s 77 missions abroad have taken 261 programmes, including introduction of Bangabandhu chair in a number of universities abroad and naming roads after Bangabandhu.
He said Bangladesh will make its stronger presence in Pakistan having the biggest mission in size and setting up a mural of Bangabandhu there.
Rebranding Bangladesh
The Foreign Minister said Bangladesh will be branded anew across the world highlighting significant successes it made in the past years. “We’ll brand Bangladesh abroad positively with our achievements. It’s a land of opportunity and a vibrant economy.”
He said Bangladesh is also a model of peace as Bangladesh has been resolving problems with its neighbours peacefully.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen said they would put emphasis on good team work and working closely with Bangladesh missions abroad to uphold the progress across the world. “We’ve many works ahead. We’re chalking out many events.”
Highlighting Bangladesh’s economic progress over the past years, the Foreign Secretary said the world now expects Bangladesh’s leadership in many areas or looks at Bangladesh for taking the leadership role.
Presdent & PM’s Messages
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have issued separate messages on the occasion.
“With a view to celebrating the birth centenary throughout the year both at home and abroad, the government has declared March 17, 2020 to March 17, 2021 as 'Mujib Year'. This is an extraordinary opportunity for the nation to pay deep respect and gratitude to Bangabandhu. I believe that through the celebration of Mujib Year, the young generation will be able to know the life and works of Bangabandhu and being inspired by his ideals they will be able to contribute to building Golden Bangla,” the President said in his message.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, said, “We have declared 17 March 2020 to 17 March 2021 as 'Mujib Year' with a view to upholding the life and works of Bangabandhu to people, especially the next generation through this glorious celebration. In my consideration ‘Bangabandhu' belongs to all. I hope that the celebration of the birth centenary will come to a success by projecting his life and works through different programmes and initiatives taken by all government, non-government offices, organisations, educational institutions as well as pro-liberation political parties and social-cultural organisations.”
In her message, the Prime Minister hoped that the countdown watch and the display devices that will depict the life and works of Bangabandhu will generate huge enthusiasm among people.