DHAKA, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh kicked off 10-day long special events on Wednesday to celebrate the country's Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's birth centenary and the golden jubilee of the country's independence.
Streets and strategically important places and structures in capital Dhaka have been decorated with colorful festoons, flags and banners to celebrate one of the country's biggest celebrations that begins on Wednesday that marks the 101st birth anniversary of the great leader who led the country's nine-month liberation war 50 years ago.
Bangladeshi President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday morning paid tributes to the great leader.
The day is a public holiday and also observed as the National Children's Day in Bangladesh.
In the evening, the Bangladeshi president and the prime minister joined by dignitaries from home and abroad took part in a major celebration ceremony of the day in Dhaka's National Parade Ground.
World leaders have sent video messages which were screened at the grand celebration ceremony.
Following the COVID-19 outbreak, the Bangladeshi government postponed a major event of world leaders in Dhaka on March 17, 2020 to mark the 100th birth anniversary of Rahman who declared the country's independence in 1971.
The Bangladeshi government declared the period from March 17, 2020 to March 26, 2021 as the "Mujib Borsho (Year)" marking the birth centenary of Rahman, also known as Mujib.
The government has subsequently extended the Mujib Year marking the birth centenary of Rahman till this year's Victory Day which falls on Dec. 16. Enditem
