The historic Homecoming Day of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the greatest Bangalee of all time, was observed across the country on Tuesday amid different programmes.
Bangabandhu, the undisputed leader of the nation and supreme commander of the country's Liberation War, returned to the sacred soil of independent Bangladesh via London and New Delhi on January 10 in 1972, after 290 days of confinement in Pakistan jail.
Since then, the nation is observing the day as the Homecoming Day of the Father of the Nation.
The ruling Awami League began its programmes with hoisting of the national and party flags at its central office, Bangabandhu Bhaban and party offices across the country in the dawn.
Marking the day, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid rich tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing wreaths at his portrait in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi here this morning.
After laying the wreath, the prime minister stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memory of Bangabandhu, the architect of Bangladesh's independence.
Flanked by central leaders of Awami League, Sheikh Hasina, also the president of the party, placed another wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu on behalf of her party.
AL Advisory Council Member Amir Hossain Amu, General Secretary Obaidul Quader, Presidium Members Begum Matia Chowdhury, Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, Shajahan Khan, Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya Bir Bikram, Qamrul Islam, Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Abdur Rahman, Joint General Secretaries-Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, Mahbubul Alam Hanif, AFM Bahauddin Nasim and Dr Dipu Moni, Organising Secretaries Ahmed Hossain, Afjal Hossain, Mirza Azam and Shafiul Alam Chowdhury Nadel, Publicity Secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap, Science and Technology Affairs Secretary Abdus Sabur, Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Aminul Islam Amin and Cultural Affairs Secretary Asim Kumar Ukil were present, among others.
After laying the wreath, AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader said Bangladesh achieved victory in 1971 through the surrender of the Pakistani occupation forces.
"But, this victory was incomplete until Sheikh Mujib, the great hero of the victory, who was imprisoned in Pakistan, was released and returned home," he said while talking to reporters.
Quader said the victory of Bangladesh got completion on January 10, 1972.
He said that the firm promise of the Homecoming Day of Bangabandhu is to build an ideal country as the Father of the Nation's dream.
Besides, leaders and workers of Dhaka City AL North and South, Jubo League, Bangladesh Krishak League, Awami Swechchhasebak League, Mahila Awami League, Jubo Mahila League, Jatiya Sramik League, Bangladesh Chhatra League and other organizations paid homage to Bangabandhu by placing wreaths.
AL leaders and workers also placed wreaths at the mausoleum of Bangabandhu at Tungipara in Gopalganj in the morning.
Led by party's Presidium Member Lt Col (Retd) Faruk Khan, AL leaders and workers paid tributes to Bangabandhu at 11am.
AL arranged a discussion at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) auditorium in the capital at 3pm.
Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the discussion.
Party's General Secretary Obaidul Quader delivered the welcome address.
Source: BSS