Bangladesh parliament on Thursday morning opened a special session to mark the 50th anniversary of the national legislature. This is also the 22nd session of the 11th Jatiya Sangsad, the parliament. With Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair, the session started at around 11:00 am. President Abdul Hamid is scheduled to deliver a memorial speech in the parliament on Friday where he is expeted to highlight the country’s achievement and the role of parliament. Also read: 5-member panel of chairmen nominated by Speaker for 22nd session of 11th Parliament A resolution on the President’s speech will be adopted in the Jatiya Sangsad following discussion by lawmakers, the speaker said in her introductory speech. She referred to the start of the journey of Bangladesh Jatiya Sangsad on April 7, 1973 as a momentous day. “In continuation of this, we are going to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of parliament in 2023. That is why April 7 is an important day for Parliament,” she added. Earlier on March 21, President Abdul Hamid convened the 22nd session. Before the House convened, the Business Advisory Committee of parliament held a meeting with the speaker in the chair and fixed the duration and businesses of the session.  

Thousands of Awami Jubo League activists from different districts of the country started gathering at capital’s Suhrawary Udyan since Friday morning to join the grand youth rally marking its golden jubilee The rally of the youth front of the ruling Awami League is scheduled to start at around 2.30 pm, Awami Jubo League Chairman Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash told UNB Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is also the president of Awami League, will address the rally as the chief guest. The city is bracing for traffic jams as slogan-chanting activists marched towards the rally venue in processions and on vehicles. Also read: Jubo League gears up for golden jubilee rally Friday Dhaka University's TSC, Mall Chattar, VC Chattar, Shahbagh, Doel Chattar, Suhrwardy Udyan and its surrounding areas were filled with processions. Leaders and activists from across the country have come to join the rally wearing t-shirts made especially for the occasion.

Awami Jubo League will mark its golden jubilee with a grand youth rally in the city on Friday. Leaders of the youth front of the ruling Awami League said they expect that 10 lakh people will join the rally due to start at 2:30 pm at Suhrawardy Uddayan. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is also the president of Awami League, will address the rally as the chief guest, Jubo League Chairman Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash said. He said since its inception the youth organisation played a key role in the country’s democratic movement and national development. He also warned that his organization will resist the BNP-Jamaat and their followers on the streets if they try to create anarchy. People didn't forget the 92-day strike imposed by BNP-Jamaat causing untold miseries to them. Read more: Jubo League is enough to face BNP: Hasan Mahmud Jubo League has already held a series of meetings to make the youth rally a success. Up to 75 thousand t-shirts have been made for North and South Jubo League leaders and activists. Metropolitan North Jubo League has been instructed to wear green and South Jubo League red caps. On the 50th anniversary of the organization, Jubo League is all set for a massive showdown across the city, he said.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has said both Bangladesh and Norway exemplify that even relatively smaller powers can wield considerable influence in shaping global norms and discourses. “We believe we shall continue to be inspired by Norway and other Nordic countries as we remain pledge-bound to build a peaceful, just, inclusive and prosperous society as part of our government’s Vision 2041,” he said. The Foreign Minister made the remarks while addressing a reception held at a city hotel on Sunday to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh-Norway bilateral relations. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway Anniken Huitfeldt and Ambassador of Norway to Bangladesh Espen Rikter-Svendsen were present. Also read: FM highlights work towards 'free, fair and transparent' elections Momen assured Minister Huitfeldt that, if the last fifty years can be any guide, Norway can certainly place its bet on its future partnership with Bangladesh. Norway was among the first European countries to have recognised an independent Bangladesh in 1972.

Delivering the vision of reshaping Bangladesh, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday promised to bring smiles to the faces of the distressed people as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. “The Father of the Nation wanted to bring smiles to the faces of the unhappy people. That’s our goal, too,” she said while chairing the celebration of the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation and the Golden Jubilee of the Victory at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad. President Md Abdul Hamid also spoke at the function as the chief guest, while Indian President Ram Nath Kovind as the guest of honour. Also read: PM pays tributes to Liberation War martyrs The National Implementation Committee for Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's Birth Centenary Celebration arranged the event with the title of “The Greatest Hero of the Great Victory.”

The nation is set to celebrate the 51st Victory Day on Thursday, the most joyous day when the country was born at the cost of the supreme sacrifice of three million martyrs and the honour of nearly half a million mothers and sisters, with elaborate programmes. On this glorious day in 1971, Bangladesh was liberated as an independent country after the Pakistani occupation forces surrendered following a bloody nine-month-long war. People from all walks of life will join various programmes on Thursday to pay deep homage to the martyrs who laid down their lives for the country during the Liberation War 50 years back. Read: Victory Day programmes: DMP commissioner stresses onus on security Along with the government, different socio-political, educational and cultural institutions and organisations have chalked out a series of programmes to celebrate the day. Bangladeshis at home and abroad will also celebrate the day. This year’s Victory Day has special significance as it coincides with the celebrations of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of the country's independence. The day’s programme will begin with a 31-gun salute.

Apasen, a British-Bangladeshi charity organisation, organized a colourful event in London to celebrate the golden jubilee of Bangladesh independence on the occasion of the organisation’s 37th anniversary.A function in this regard was arranged in the People's Palace Great Hall of the Queen Mary University in East London on Sunday.Legendary BBC journalist Sir Mark Tully, who provided the news coverage of the war of liberation, joined the event virtually. Prince Charles and Prime Minister Boris Johnson also sent their greetings on the occasion. READ:  Bangladesh’s Golden Jubilee of Independence: PM seeks general discussion in Parliament Speaking at the function Sayeda Muna Tasnim, Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK, said it was the largest and most spectacular Bangladeshi event she had seen during her tenure here.On this occasion mementos were handed over to the freedom fighters staying in the UK.The three-and-a-half-hour event featured screening of documentaries on the war of liberation, culture and nature of Bangladesh, Apasen activities, Bangladesh Betar music, modern music, folk and modern dances, poetry, etc. READ:  USAID launches photography book 'Golden Jubilee of Golden Bengal' A commemorative publication was also issued by Apasen on the 50 years of independence celebration.

Sunday, 1st of August marked the 50th anniversary of the historic ‘Concert for Bangladesh’, the charity concert organized for the aid of Bangladesh during the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh by world-famous Indian sitar maestro Pandit Sri Ravi Shankar, and English singer, songwriter, and lead guitarist of The Beatles, George Harrison at the historic Madison Square Garden, New York. Initiated with a mission to draw international attention to the war genocide and fund relief for refugees from then East Pakistan, the pair of concerts was organized on August 1st, 1971 featuring legendary names in world music including Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, Leon Russell and more. Read:Joy Bangla Concert: Rock stars share best memories The Concert for Bangladesh is acknowledged as the first such charity concert for a humanitarian cause, that paved the way for many later events such as BandAid, LiveAid and Live8. Although the ongoing global pandemic of Covid-19 prevented any massive-scale celebration in the country, the historic day has been observed with deep respect and a couple of significant arrangements as tributes to the historic charity concert that addressed Bangladesh to many of the music lovers around the world. Honouring the legacy of the historic concert, London-based UBIK Productions and Samdani Art Foundation (Dhaka) organized a unique online concert titled ‘Concert from Bangladesh’ on Sunday, supported by the British Council Digital Collaboration Fund. The mixed reality concert, streamed live at the Pioneer Works' online platform on Sunday at 6 pm (Bangladesh time) enthralled audiences through an exclusive audio-visual journey divided into an expansive three-act, featuring renowned Baul singer Arif Baul accompanied by instrumental artists Nazrul Islam, Saidur Rahman, and Sohel; an exclusive piece on the second act composed by Enayet Kabir and Nishit Dey, exploring the shared musical language between Nazrul Sangeet, classical raga, and 90s music utilizing the cutting edge electronic production and arrangements by Enayet Kabir, Provhat Rahman and Adittya Arzu, also known as Siaminium, with classical raga and Nazrul Sangeet by Meerashri Arshee and Moumita Haque, Bansuri flute by Jawaad Mustakim Al Muballig and Nishit Dey on sitar - and the concluding act by the popular Bangladeshi hip hop duo, the 12-year-old 'Gully Boy' Rana alongside Tabib Mahmud. Read:Bands pay tribute to Joy Bangla Concert Acclaimed British-South Asian artist Shezad Dawood crafted the virtual reality stage for the concert with having the historical-intellectual hub Beauty Boarding, the riverbanks of Gorai River in Kushtia and Somapura Mahavihara in Paharpur, Naoga on the background. The concert was co-curated by Diana Campbell, Artistic Director of the SAF, alongside music producer and artist Enayet Kabir, assistant curators Ruxmini Choudhury and Shoummo Saha. Inspired by the virtuous concept of the charity Concert for Bangladesh, all proceeds from this unique concert will be distributed between the performing musicians and Bangladeshi charity organisation, Friendship, which offers healthcare for climate change refugees and promotes women's rights in Bangladesh. Earlier, Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar on Sunday unveiled a commemorative stamp worth Tk 10 and an opening envelope worth Tk 10 from his office in Dhaka, alongside a data card worth Tk 5, honouring the historic concert. Read:‘Music Against Hunger’: The charity concert for an era of pandemic Meanwhile, State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak unveiled a special commemorative book titled 'The Country That Lived - Fifty Years of Freedom and the Concert for Bangladesh' on Saturday. The ‘Concert for Bangladesh’, joined by 40,000 live audiences at the Madison Square Garden in New York City is considered the trailblazing event that revolutionized many all-star charity events that have followed ever since.

President Abdul Hamid on Monday said Bangladesh gives importance to developing relationships with neighbouring countries, including Afghanistan.  He made the remarks when outgoing Afghan Ambassador to Bangladesh Abdul Qayoom Malikzad paid a courtesy call on him. President's Press Secretary Joynal Abedin briefed reporters after the meeting. Hamid said Afghanistan can use Bangladesh's experience in women empowerment, basic education, healthcare, sanitation and human resource development. Also read: Bangladesh offers support to Afghanistan for development The President also praised Afghanistan's recent efforts to establish democracy.  He said 2021 is a year of great joy and pride for Bangladesh. This year, Bangladesh is celebrating the golden jubilee of independence and the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman together. Besides, this year, Bangladesh has received the final recommendation of the United Nations to become a developing country. 

US Senator Bob Menendez, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has greeted Bangladesh and its people marking the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh’s independence. Extending best wishes to the people of Bangladesh, Senator Menendez said the members of Congress have a proud history of support for Bangladesh’s freedom. “Senator Ted Kennedy’s 1971 visit drew international attention to the repression the people of Bangladesh faced, and Kennedy became a champion for the importance of Bangladesh’s independence,” the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee said in the statement.  Also read: Curtain falls on 10-day celebration marking golden jubilee, Bangabandhu’s birth centenary He looks forward to strengthening the Bangladesh-US relationship on the basis of those values to address major issues including climate change, human rights, and humanitarian challenges. Also read: PM releases commemorative stamp marking Golden Jubilee Senator Menendez expressed gratefulness for the contributions made by Bangladeshi-Americans to the United States.