Home ›› 29 Sep 2021 ›› Front
The 75th birthday of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was celebrated in Bangladesh on Tuesday with much fanfare and fervour.
Hasina, the eldest among the five children of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, was born at Tungipara in Gopalganj on September 28, 1947.
Marking the day, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) launched another nationwide mass vaccination drive to inoculate 7.5 million people in a day.
The vaccination drive began at 9am at 6,000 vaccine centres across the country. In the first two hours, women above 50 years and disabled people got the jabs on a priority basis.
Only the first dose was given under the programme and the receivers will get their second dose next month on the same day, the DGHS said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is now in the USA to join the 76th United Nations General Assembly.
Ruling Awami League and its affiliated organisations celebrated the day through various programmes, highlighting her life and achievements.
Different programmes, including discussions, doa and milad-mahfil, special prayers and photo exhibitions were organised in the capital and elsewhere, marking her birthday.
As part of the AL central programmes, a discussion was held at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the capital at 10am.
Besides, doa and milad-mahfil were arranged at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque and other mosques after Zuhr prayers.
Special prayers were offered at International Buddhist Monastery at Merul Badda, Christian Association Bangladesh (CAB) Mirpur Baptist Church, Japmala Rani Church in Tejgaon and Dhakeshwari Temple on the day. AL central leaders were present at the events.
AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader also asked all associate bodies, social and cultural organisations and their leaders and activists to celebrate the day through different programmes, including discussions, doa-mahfils and special prayers.
He also asked the leaders of all AL units up to the ward level to celebrate the day, taking up similar programmes maintaining all Covid-safety protocols.
The Awami League’s online campaigner albd web team initiated a project ‘Thank You, PM’ on the occasion.
“Within 18 days, we received more than 1,000 videos. After initial scrutiny, these videos will be shared from Awami League’s verified Facebook page on the occasion of the prime minister’s birthday,” said albd web team coordinator Tonmoy Ahmed.
The Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy has launched a month-long special exhibition at its National Art Gallery, marking the 75th birthday of the prime minister. The special exhibition, titled ‘Unnayaner Kabi, Manabatar Maa’ was inaugurated by State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid.
Ekushey Padak winning music director Shujeyo Shyam composed five songs marking the prime minister’s birthday.
The songs are — Duhswaper Ghor Kete sung by Yousuf Ahmed Khan, Banglar Ghare Ghare Path Ghat Prantare sung by Nishita Barua and Sabbir Zaman, Baba Beche Thakle sung by Priyanka, Apan Mahimate Tabuo Bangladesh sung by Dinat Jahan Munni and Haimanti Rakshit Das, and Bangabandhu Bangamata Bangakanya Tumi sung by Kamal Ahmed.
Another song titled Shubho Shubho Din, composed and penned by Bayezid Khurshid Riaz, and sung by Mohammad Khurshid Alam, Rafiqul Alam and Fahmida Nabi was also released.
The Bangladesh Television also aired a special musical programme at 7pm marking the prime ministers birthday. Sheikh Hasina assumed office on January 7, 2019, for the fourth time after her party-led grand alliance won the 11th parliamentary election on December 30, 2018.
She served as prime minister for the first time in 1996-2001, the second term in 2009-2013, and the third term in 2014-2018. Hasina served as the Leader of Opposition thrice.
She spent much of her childhood in Tungipara. When Bangabandhu was elected a legislator, his family moved to Dhaka in 1954. She graduated from the University of Dhaka in 1973.
Hasina was elected vice-president of the Students Union of the Government Intermediate Girls College when she contested as a candidate from the Chhatra League.
Later, she served as secretary and then as president of the college unit of the Chhatra League. She was also a member of the Chhatra League at Dhaka University and became the secretary of the Rokeya Hall unit. She actively participated in all mass movements from her student life.
Bangabandhu, along with other family members, was assassinated on the fateful night of August 15, 1975. Hasina and her younger sister Sheikh Rehana were the only survivors as they were in West Germany at that time.
Hasina was unanimously elected as the president of Awami League in 1981 in her absence while she was in forced exile. She finally returned home on May 17, 1981, ending her six years in exile.
She faced the wrath of the then rulers on her return as she launched a movement to restore democracy. Hasina was detained time and again, and at least 22 attempts were made on her life.
