The birthday of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, commonly known as Bangabandhu's birthday, is a public holiday in Bangladesh observed annually on 17 March to celebrate the birthday of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, (also known as Bangabandhu, lit. 'friend of Bengal') the founder of Bangladesh and former president of Awami League.
| Birthday of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Official name | Birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman |
| Also called | Bangabandhu's birthday |
| Observed by | Bangladesh |
| Type | National |
| Significance | Honours Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, founder and the first president of Bangladesh |
| Date | 17 March |
| Frequency | Annual |
| First time | 1967 |
| Related to | National Children’s Day |
A major holiday, commemorations for Bangabandhu began during his lifetime in 1967, and have continued ever since. The event is primarily observed by the government and the citizens of the country where the national flag is hoisted at major architectural structures such as private and public buildings.
History
editBefore independence
editBangabandhu (legal name Sheikh Mujibur Rahman) was the founder of Bangladesh and one of its most important leaders. He was born on 17 March 1920 in Tungipara, Faridpur District, Bengal Presidency, British India.[a][2] He spent his birthdays resting and receiving gifts from his wife Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib.[3] In 1967, he was incarcerated in Central Jail, Dacca. That year his birthday was celebrated by the provincial branch of Awami League in Dacca (then the capital of East Pakistan, now present-day Dhaka, Bangladesh), and the party also organized religious prayer ceremonies for that day in Chittagong, another city of the province.[3][4] His family came to meet him that day and a cake was sent to the jail for his birthday by his party. On that day politicians of his party met him and gave him flowers as his birthday present.[3]
In 1971, his birthday took place during that country's non-cooperation movement. He spent that day meeting the then-president of Pakistan, Yahya Khan, before meeting foreign journalists and returning to his residence,[3] where people wished him a happy birthday. In the afternoon, prayers were organized for him at Baitul Mukarram under the leadership of Islamic scholar Obaidullah bin Syed Jalalabadi.[5] On the same day, Mohammad Abul Khayer, provincial assembly member and member of the Awami League, gave Bangabandhu a phonograph record of his 7 March speech as a birthday gift.[6]
After independence
editAfter East Pakistan achieved independence as the People's Republic of Bangladesh in 1972, Bangabandhu's birthday became a one-off public holiday in order to honor a scheduled visit to Bangladesh from Indira Gandhi, prime minister of India.[7] The day was declared as "the day for hard work and dedication to the greater good".[7] Gandhi used her visit to give Bangabandhu birthday presents, and the then-finance minister Tajuddin Ahmad in an official statement wished him long life on his birthday.[6] In addition, a program was organized, where besides Bangabandhu, Muzaffar Ahmed Chowdhury, the then vice-chancellor of the University of Dhaka was present. The Chhatra League, student wing of Awami League, distributed greeting cards as the birthday tribute.[8] Various political organizations celebrated his birthday in 1973.[6]
On Bangabandhu's 55th birthday in 1975, 50,000 people gathered in front of his residence at 6 a.m. with gifts to greet him. This birthday was not a public holiday and he left the residence 5 hours later to go to the Ganabhaban to officiate as the president.[6] A 55-pound (25 kg) cake was ordered by BAKSAL to celebrate Bangabandhu's 55th birthday.[9][b] He was assassinated with his family in August 15 of the same year.[6] According to the analysis of Bangla Tribune's research department, after the death of Bangabandhu from 1976 to 1990, there is evidence of obstruction in the publication of news about his birthday celebrations.[10] Until 1995, the Awami League and its organisations faced adversity in celebrating Bangabandhu's birthday.[6] In 1993, educationist Nilima Ibrahim proposed to observe Bangabandhu's birthday as children's day at the national convention of Bangabandhu Shishu-Kishor fair. The following year, children's day was celebrated in March 17 unofficially.[11]
In 1997, the first Hasina ministry decided to officially observe Bangabandhu's birthday as the children's day and subsequently declared it a holiday. But in 2001, after the second Khaleda ministry came to power, the holiday was abolished.[12] In 2009, March 17 was again declared a public holiday as Bangabandhu’s birthday and children's day and was officially celebrated by the second Hasina ministry in 2010.[13][14] In 2020, the government declared the year Mujib Year to celebrate his birthday as centenary.[15] In 2023, by amending the "Flag Rules of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, 1972", hoisting of the Bangladeshi flag at the structures on his birthday was made mandatory.[16]
Bangabandhu's perspective
editআব্বা নিজে কখনও জন্মদিন পালন করতেন না। আমরা খুব ঘরোয়াভাবে পালন করতাম। বাবার পছন্দের খাবার রান্না করতেন মা। আমরা একসঙ্গে বসে খেতাম। এই দিন খুব অল্পই আমরা পেয়েছি। কারণ, অধিকাংশ সময় বাবাকে জেলে থাকতে হয়েছে। একটানা দুটি বছর কখনও আমরা তাঁকে কাছে পাইনি।
Father himself never celebrated his birthday. We were very home oriented. Mother used to cook father's favorite food. We used to eat together. These moments were very rare for us. Because most of the time my father had to stay in prison. For two years in a row he was absent.
— Sheikh Hasina, daughter of Bangabandhu and prime minister of Bangladesh, published on Bangla Tribune[9]
Bangabandhu's birthday celebration in family was simple. He had spent his birthday in jail eight times when Bangladesh was a Pakistani province of East Pakistan.[9] According to him, where the situation in Bengal is serious, it is the same to celebrate his birthday or not. He claimed that his life was for the people of Bengal.[9] After Bangladesh's independence, he spent time carrying out his duties as prime minister and president on his birthdays until his death.[17]
Observances
edit
It is observed as a public holiday throughout the country. In 2019, events and programs were organized on the occasion of the day in different parts of the country. Various programs were also organized in Tungipara, Bangabandhu's birthplace, on the day. The president and prime minister of the country paid their respects at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, formerly residence of Bangabandhu, in Dhaka and Bangabandhu’s mausoleum in Tungipara. On this day, free medical services were provided in government-run hospitals of the country. Radio and television channels organized special programs and shows to mark the day. On this day, the Islamic Foundation Bangladesh organized prayer meetings and Quran recitations across the country. The Awami League organized discussion meetings on Bangabandhu's birthday as well.[18]
References
editNotes
edit- ^ However, his Pakistani passport shows his date of birth as 9 September 1921.[1]
- ^ In 1975, his party Awami League was merged into new party BAKSAL and it became the only political party in the country to rule which was dissolved soon.
Citations
edit- ^ Rashid, Muktadir (11 January 2023). "Sheikh Mujib's cancelled Pakistani passport gives Sept 9 as birthday". New Age. Archived from the original on 14 January 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
- ^ Chatterjee, Debjani (16 March 2021). "Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Birth Anniversary: Know About "Bangabandhu Mujib"". NDTV. Archived from the original on 13 June 2024. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d Bhattacharjee, Partha Pratim (17 March 2023). "A mighty man's humble birthday". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 13 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
- ^ Secret Documents of Intelligence Branch on Father of The Nation, Bangladesh: Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Vol. XII. Taylor & Francis. 3 October 2022. pp. 201–205. ISBN 978-1-000-05253-4. Archived from the original on 13 June 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
- ^ "৭১ সালে বঙ্গবন্ধুর জন্মদিন পালিত হয়েছিল যেভাবে". Dhaka Times (in Bengali). 17 March 2019. Archived from the original on 13 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f Patwari, Mumtazuddun (18 March 2022). "নিজের জন্মদিন বঙ্গবন্ধু যেভাবে অতিবাহিত করেছেন". Shomoyer Alo (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 13 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
- ^ a b Hossain, Jakir (17 March 2024). "স্বাধীন দেশে বঙ্গবন্ধুর প্রথম জন্মদিনে এসেছিলেন ইন্দিরা গান্ধী". Daily Kalbela (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 14 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
- ^ Islam, Udisa (17 March 2019). "স্বাধীন দেশে বঙ্গবন্ধুর প্রথম জন্মদিন যেভাবে কেটেছিল". Bangla Tribune (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 14 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
- ^ a b c d Sheikh, Emran Hossain (17 March 2024). "কেমন কাটতো বঙ্গবন্ধুর জন্মদিন". Bangla Tribune (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 14 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
- ^ Hossain, Ajmal; Abedin, Said-ul (17 March 2020). "'৭৫ পরবর্তী সময়ে বঙ্গবন্ধুর জন্মদিনের খবর প্রকাশেও ছিল বাধা". Bangla Tribune (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 29 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
- ^ Yasmin, Mahfuza (16 March 2023). "বঙ্গবন্ধু নিজ জন্মদিনে শিশু একাডেমি করার পরিকল্পনা করেছিলেন". Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 14 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
- ^ "যতকাল রবে পদ্মা যমুনা গৌরী মেঘনা বহমান ততকাল রবে কীর্তি তোমার শেখ মুজিবুর রহমান: আজ বঙ্গবন্ধুর ৯০তম জন্মদিন". Janakantha (in Bengali). 17 March 2009. p. 2.
- ^ "Mar 17 declared public holiday". Bdnews24.com. 23 November 2009. Archived from the original on 12 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
- ^ "বঙ্গবন্ধুর ৯১তম জন্মদিন ও জাতীয় শিশু দিবস আজ". Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 17 March 2010. p. 24.
- ^ "March 17 declared public holiday". RisingBD.com. 12 March 2020. Archived from the original on 13 June 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
- ^ "বঙ্গবন্ধুর জন্মদিনে পতাকা উত্তোলন বাধ্যতামূলক করলো সরকার". Shampratik Deshkal (in Bengali). 30 April 2023. Archived from the original on 29 June 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
- ^ "একাত্তরের জন্মদিনে লেখা বঙ্গবন্ধুর চিঠি". Sarabangla.net (in Bengali). 17 May 2023. Archived from the original on 14 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
- ^ "Nation celebrates Bangabandhu's birthday". Bangla Tribune. 17 March 2019. Archived from the original on 28 October 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2023.