Director General of Ansar and VDP Maj. Gen. Mizanur Rahman Shamim said on Sunday its 61 lakh members are ready to work with the administration at field level to enforce upcoming  lockdown to stem rising coronavirus. He said this while inaugurating a countrywide 'Tree Plantation Program-2021' on the occasion of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of independence. Read: RMG factories to remain open amid 'all-out' lockdown: BGMEA president Maj. Gen. Shamim planted saplings at Ansar-VDP Academy at Safipur, Gazipur to kick off the programme following coronavirus health rules. A colourful procession was also organized on the occasion. The parade encircled the entire academy's parade grounds. Members of all levels of the force took part in it. Read: Nationwide lockdown from Monday, 'all out lockdown’ from July 1 On the occasion of the birth centenary of Bangabandhu  and the golden jubilee of independence, Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defense Forces have started 'Tree Plantation Program-2021' across the country.   Additional Director General of the Brig. Gen. Khandaker Farid Hasan, Commandant Md. Mahbub-ul-Islam, Deputy Director General (Administration) Colonel Mohammad Rafiqul Hasan, Deputy Director General (Operations) Md. Shamsul Alam and other members of the headquarters and academy staff. -Members were present at the program. Read:Army may be deployed to enforce lockdown, hints state minister Earlier on Saturday, The government decided to enforce an all-out lockdown from July 1 as the country grapples with a surge in coronavirus cases and fatalities.

  The 10-day nationwide celebration marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of the country’s Independence concluded on Friday (March 26, 2021). Greetings poured in for the people and government of Bangladesh on the occasion of the nationwide celebration of the country’s historic milestones in the Mujib Year. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, five heads of the state or government were physically present in the 10-day programme held with the theme ‘Mujib Eternal’ from March 17 to 26. Read Bangabandhu outstanding political figure: Russia The celebration concluded with a cultural presentation and fireworks at the National Parade Square in the capital at 8:35pm on Friday. President Abdul Hamid as the chief guest and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the guest of honour were present at the concluding ceremony chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. On the final day, the video messages of UN Secretary General António Guterres and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson were screened, while congratulatory messages from Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, Russian President Vladimir Putin, USA President Joe Biden and Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan were read out by the heads of their respective diplomatic missions stationed in Dhaka. Also read: Modi due Friday as main attraction of 10-Day celebration   At the event, Narendra Modi was honoured with ‘Eternal Mujib Memento’. Bangabandhu’s youngest daughter Sheikh Rehana handed over the memento to him. Later, Modi and Hasina witnessed the cultural presentation and fireworks. On March 17, President of Maldives Ibrahim Mohamed Solih joined the inaugural ceremony of the celebration as the guest of honour. Besides, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa (March 19), President of Nepal Bidya Devi Bhandari (March 22) and Prime Minister of Bhutan Lotay Tshering (March 24) were physically present as the guests of honour in the celebration. A large number of world leaders and noted dignitaries including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, South Korean Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, Pope Francis II, French Senator Madame Jacqueline Deromedi, OIC Secretary General Yousef Al Othaimeen, Director General of UNESCO Audrey Azule and President of the Indian Congress Sonia Gandhi greeted the people and the government of Bangladesh by sending video messages for the celebration. Also read: 10-day celebration: Dhaka ready to welcome global leaders Many others, including the presidents of United States, China, Russia, France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Cuba, Czech Republic, Estonia, Ethiopia, Egypt, European Council, Georgia, Poland, Singapore, Thailand, Swiss Federation, Philippines, Palestine, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, Vietnam, Lao PDR, Mongolia and Zambia, and prime ministers of Algeria, Bulgaria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cuba, China, Czech Republic, Greece, Iraq, Kosovo, Montenegro, Monaco, Malaysia, Qatar, Serbia, Thailand, Vietnam, UAE Vice-President, and Chairman of State Administrative Council of Myanmar extended written greetings. Also, the Queen of Britain, the Emperor of Japan, the King of Belgium, Malaysia, Spain, Sweden and Morocco, the Sultan of Brunei, the Emir of Qatar and many others sent written congratulatory messages. Sheikh Hasina, on behalf of the People and the Government of Bangladesh and herself, extended her sincere gratitude to all the dignitaries who attended the celebration or extended greetings on the occasion. Also read: PM releases commemorative stamp marking Golden Jubilee During the celebration, the India government on March 22 conferred the prestigious ‘Gandhi Peace Prize-2020’ on Bangabandhu posthumously, recognising his immense and unparalleled contribution in inspiring the liberation of Bangladesh, bringing stability to a nation born out of strife, laying the foundation for the close and fraternal relations between India and Bangladesh, and promoting peace and non-violence in the India subcontinent.     At the closing ceremony of the celebration, Sheikh Rehana accompanied by Sheikh Hasina received the ‘Gandhi Peace Prize-2020’ from Narendra Modi.   Read I'm here to hear Bangladesh story sitting next to Hasina: Bhutanese PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said Bangladesh has attained enviable successes in socio-economic indicators in a short period of time.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Thursday said Bangladesh will have stronger relations with the external world through celebrating the 50 years of Independence amid presence of global leaders – both in person and virtually.

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl Miller on Thursday said Bangladesh is gaining growing importance within South Asia due to its socioeconomic progress.

Impressed by the art exhibition on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Brazilian Ambassador to Bangladesh Joao Tabajara de Oliveira Junior on Saturday said each of the artwork shows the powerful strong look of Hasina depicting her mother-like protective character. 

Bangladesh High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa has opened a “Bangabandhu Centre” recently as the government has taken various steps to brand Bangladesh positively through establishment of such centers across the world.

The UNESCO Executive Board has unanimously adopted a proposal for the establishment of UNESCO-Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize in the field of the creative economy.

President Abdul Hamid on Monday recalled Parliament sessions with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and shared fond memories of the architect of the nation’s independence.

Parliament will go into a special session (10th session of the current parliament) on November 8, marking the Mujib Borsha.