The nation is celebrating the UNESCO recognition of the historic March 7 speech of Father of the Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in a befitting manner across the country on Saturday, reports BSS.
As part of the celebration, jubilant processions, essay and quiz competitions and screening of films on the Liberation War are being held at all the 64 districts, upazilas as well as the capital also.
Bangladesh missions abroad are also holding the similar programmes.
"The government has decided to celebrate the programme as the UNESCO recognised Bangabandhu's historic March 7 speech as a world documentary heritage which is a great achievement for the entire nation," said Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam at a press briefing held yesterday.
In the capital, the day-long celebration began at 12 noon through placing wreaths at the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Bangabandhu Residence on Dhanmondi Road-32.
Later, a procession from the residence will move towards Suhrawardy Uddyan where Bangabandhu delivered the landmark speech in a mammoth gathering on March 7, 1971.
Noted politicians, lawmakers, freedom fighters, cultural personalities, cultural activists, government officials and employees, sports organisations, renowned sportsmen, representatives from Shilpakala Academy, representatives from Sammilito Sangskritik Jote, representatives from NGOs, scouts, rovers, smartly turned-out police horse contingent, decorated horse carts, band parties of police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Ansar and VDP and people of all-strata will participate in the rally.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will address a grand rally as the chief guest at 3 pm at Suhrawardy Uddyan.
Following the address of the Prime Minister, a cultural function and leaser show will also be held at 4pm and 5.30pm respectively.
Stringent security measures with deployment of police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Ansar and different intelligence agencies have been taken to hold the nationwide programme peacefully.
Besides, the district and upazila level programmes began at 10 am through placing wreaths at the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the respective areas.
Apart from this, educational institutions across the country are organizing essay, quiz and general knowledge competitions marking the great achievement.
Information Ministry, Secondary and Higher Education Division, Technical and Madrasa Education Division, district and upzaila administrations have been entrusted with the responsibility of supervising the programmes.
Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and private TV channels are airing the programmes live while newspapers published special supplements today.
The historic March 7 speech of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has been included in the Memory of World International Register, a list of world's important documentary heritage maintained by UNESCO.
UNESCO formally recognised the historic March 7 speech of Bangabandhu as part of the world's documentary heritage with the announcement of the Director General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on October 30.