The day, March 17, was celebrated with reading from Bangabandhu’s ‘Unfinished Memoir’, artworks on ‘Bangabandhu and Britain’ by 300 British-Bangladeshi children and a special musical performance, ‘Jatir Pita’, by over a hundred children. 

High Commissioner to the UK and Ireland Saida Muna Tasneem unveiled a portrait of Bangabandhu at the chancery by renowned British-Bangladeshi artist Asad Ullah and placed floral wreaths at the portrait together with senior diplomats of the Mission maintaining social distancing and Covid health guidelines. 

The virtual programme was joined by diplomats, UK Foreign office representative, British academics and journalists, and members of the British-Bangladeshi diaspora, including hundreds of British-Bangladeshi children who paid their deep tribute to Bangabandhu on his birthday. 

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Attending the special programme as the chief guest, State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Fazilatun Nessa Indira said Bangabandhu always wanted the best future for children and his visionary daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is also taking every measure to protect and unlock the full potential of every child of the country.

High Commissioner Tasneem said Prime Minister Hasina in a very befitting manner has declared March 17 as the National Children’s Day so that every Bangladeshi child at home and abroad can learn about Bangabandhu's progressive, democratic and secular values and ideals.

Bangladesh Shishu Academy Chairman Lucky Inam attached the highest importance to Bangabandhu’s affection, vision and initiatives for children for securing their better future.

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Referring to the first post-Covid foreign visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bangladesh on March 26, Indian High Commissioner to the UK Gaitri Issar Kaur said that this visit reflects how much importance India has attached to the 50th year of Bangladesh’s independence. She highly praised remarkable socio-economic progress in Bangladesh achieved under the leadership of Prime Minister Hasina.

Paying deep tribute to Bangabandhu, UK FCDO Director for South Asia Lisa Bandari said, “Sheikh Mujib's founding vision of a democratic, free, secular and inclusive Bangladesh is a truly inspiring one, which will continue to guide Bangladesh during the 50th anniversary celebration and beyond.” 

Chaired and moderated by the High Commissioner, eminent journalist and columnist Abdul Gaffar Choudhury, UK-based Asian Affairs Editor Duncan Bartlett, renowned BBC journalist Asish Ray, organiser of the Bangladesh’s Liberation War movement in the UK Sultan Mahmud Sharif and noted British-Bangladeshi community leader Sayed Sajidur Rahman Faruk also spoke on the occasion.

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A documentary on the Father of the Nation was screened. Dedicating to Bangabandhu, noted singer Fahmida Nabi performed a song and theatre activist and singer Shampa Reza recited a poem. 

Earlier in the day, the High Commissioner along with senior diplomats of the mission raised the national flag at the chancery.

Messages from the President, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister and State Minister for Foreign Affairs were read out.