Bangabandhu's birth centenary programmes postponed: PM

All of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's birth centenary celebrations of March 17, March 25 and March 26 have been postponed until further notice, in light of the current coronavirus outbreak, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina decided during a meeting with the Awami League's central executive committee at the Gonobhaban.

"It's our responsibility and duty to look after the safety and health of the country's people," she said, UNB reports.

The PM said the programmes where a huge number of people will gather will be announced later. "We won't observe these programmes at this moment. However, other programmes will go as per the schedule," the report quotes her as saying.

She mentioned that the invited guests who will come here from different countries will also face problems as coronavirus has so far spread to more than 100 countries across the globe. "After overcoming this crisis, we'll announce those programmes later."

Sheikh Hasina, the eldest daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, said her family members, including Sheikh Rehana, Saima Wazed Hossain and Radwan Mujib Siddiq, sat with the centenary celebration committee yesterday and they all gave their consent to reschedule the programmes. "To us, the welfare of the people matters most."

She said getting the chance to celebrate the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation is a great opportunity for them. "There's no doubt about that. We'll celebrate it in different ways keeping in consideration the lesser public gathering in programmes," she said.

The PM said the aim of this decision is to keep the people of the country out of danger at any cost.

She also said the government has postponed the children's rally on the Independence Day (March 26) for the same reason.

Hasina said the government has taken all sorts of preparations to face the coronavirus outbreak. "We've prepared hospitals in Dhaka, and district and upazila levels to provide treatment to coronavirus-affected people."