AL’s programmes on Bangabandhu’s Homecoming Day

The ruling Awami League and its associate bodies have chalked out elaborate programmes to mark the historic Homecoming Day of the greatest Bangalee of all the times Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The day’s programme will start with hoisting of the national and party flags at the AL central office, Bangabandhu Bhaban, and party offices across the country around 6:30am. AL leaders and workers will place wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu at Bangabandhu Bhaban in the city’s Dhanmondi here at 7:00 am.

AL leaders will attend the countdown programme, which will begin at the National Parade Ground around 3:00pm.

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.

This year, the observance of the Bangabandhu’s Homecoming Day is very significant as the nation is going to celebrate the great leader’s year-long birth centenary programmes from March 17. The government has already declared ‘Mujib Year’ from March 17, 2020 to March 17, 2021.

The countdown for the birth centenary celebration will begin from the Homecoming Day.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will unveil the countdown for the yearlong birth centenary celebration at the National Parade Ground at Tejgaon here tomorrow (Friday).

Earlier on March 26 in 1971, Bangabandhu proclaimed independence of Bangladesh and urged people from all walks of life to participate wholeheartedly in the nation’s War of Liberation.

Immediately after the proclamation of independence, Bangabandhu was arrested by Pakistani military junta and then flown to West Pakistan to keep him in prison there.

Though the final victory in the nine-month-long bloody War of Liberation was achieved defeating Pakistani occupation forces on December 16 in 1971, the nation’s expectations were fulfilled and the people got the real taste of victory with the homecoming of Bangabandhu on January 10, 1972.

On reaching Dhaka (Tejgaon) airport in the afternoon on January 10, Bangabandhu was greeted by tens of thousands of jubilant people who had been eagerly waiting to see the beloved leader since the final victory on December 16 in 1971.

From airport Bangabandhu was moved to the Racecourse Maidan (now Suhrawardy Udyan) where he addressed a spontaneous reception accorded to him by the cheerful countrymen believed to be one million.

He recalled with respect the contribution of all during the war and urged the people to rebuild the war-ravaged country.

Bangabandhu took oath of office as the country’s Prime Minister on January 12, 1972.

Dhaka/Parvez/AI