The 10-day celebration program to mark the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of independence of Bangladesh has begun.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived at the National Parade Ground on Wednesday afternoon to start the celebration.

Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and First Lady Fazna Ahmed joined Hamid and Hasina to take part in the historic celebration.

The celebration was kicked off with a group of children singing the national anthem in chorus at 4:30 pm.

President Abdul Hamid attended as the chief guest while Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina chaired the event.

In his speech, President Hamid urged politicians to take lessons from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s ideals and devote them selflessly in serving the country, reports BSS.

“Take lessons from the ideals and works of Bangabandhu … and devote yourself to serve the country and its people,” he said at the function at the National Parade Square.

The president said contrary to examples set by the country’s founder, politics in Bangladesh now seemed to have taken a different course with some opportunists who seem to have taken politics as a “profession” for narrow personal interests.

President Hamid said politics and profession were different things while “politics” is an arena to work for the country’s welfare and profession is the means to earn money for livelihood.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid tribute to her father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman during her address at the event.

She said: “On this day in 1920, a child was born in a secluded village Tungipara. The child, who came to this earth enlightening the lap of mother Sheikh Saira Khatun and father Sheikh Lutfur Rahman, illuminated the life of the Bengali community and brought freedom.”

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The prime minister also extended her sincere gratitude to all the friendly countries and leaders who helped during the great Liberation War, the struggles for freedom, and the post-war reconstruction of the country.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and famous British journalist Mark Talley sent congratulatory video messages to mark the occasion.

Placing high importance on growing China’s relations with Bangladesh, Chinese President Jinping said: “We must always remember what the elder generation of leaders did for growth of China-Bangladesh relations, and shall pass on the baton of the China-Bangladesh friendship to future generations.”

President Xi said the principle of “friendship to all and malice towards none” Bangabandhu laid out remains the bedrock of Bangladesh’s foreign policy, reports UNB.

“Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was an old and good friend of the Chinese people. On his two visits to China in 1952 and 1957, he forged friendships with Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai, and other Chinese leaders of the elder generation,” he said.

Trudeau recalled his visit to Bangladesh when he was a child with his father and former prime minister of Canada Pierre Trudeau.

Suga reiterated Japan’s commitment to support Bangladesh for development.

Speaking at the ceremony, Maldives President Solih emphasized that throughout his life, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a firm advocate of democracy and political liberty and that he advocated those ideals that resonated with people from all walks of life.

Despite the tragic circumstances of his death, President Solih noted that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman will always have an honoured place in the hearts of those who yearn for democracy and freedom.

Presentation of video footages of Bangabandhu’s historic addresses and comments were displayed at the function where national-level singers along with young artistes sang the Mujib Year’s theme song titled “Tumi Banglar Dhrubo Tara and Banglar Batighar” authored by poet Kamal Chowdhury and composed by Nakib Khan.

National Professor Rafiqul Islam, chairman of the committee on the celebrations, delivered a welcoming speech at the program.

Nilphamari 2 MP Asaduzzaman Nur was moderating the inauguration program.