The government has urged people to celebrate Christmas Day and 31st night on the eve of New Year on a very limited scale due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Home Ministry issued a notice in this regard on December 14. Read: PM witnesses enthralling cultural show on V-Day and Mujib Borsha celebrations All religious and social progremmes are being arranged on a very limited scale worldwide due to Covid, and the religious festivals of Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists were celebrated in Bangladesh on a limited scale maintaining health guidelines, said the notice.  It will be logical to celebrate Christmas and the 31st night on a limited scale and strictly maintain health guidelines instead of holding meetings, rallies and any kind of religious, social and cultural programmes. Read: Dazzling fireworks bring curtains down on DU's centenary celebrations The ministry also asked law enforcers and local administrations to maintain law and order and ensure health protocols across the country after holding meetings with the authorities concerned in the upazilas, districts and metropolitan cities if needed. It also asked the law enforcement agencies to strengthen security ahead of the events.

The Latin phrase, 'annus horribilis' (horrible year), aptly sums up the story of 2020, the last year of this decade.

Observing the National Mourning Day and 45th martyrdom anniversary of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman - Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) commemorated Bangabandhu and the martyrs of August 15 through various cultural programmes broadcast on its official Facebook page on Saturday.