Dhaka: The 97th birth anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman observed on Friday with due respect.

The day is celebrated as the National Children’s Day. The day is also a public holiday.

On this day in 1920, the architect of the nation was born at Tungipara of Gopalganj.

Through his dynamic leadership, Bangabandhu had organised the Bangali nation to fight against exploitation and repression by the Pakistani rulers. The movement culminated in independent Bangladesh through the nine-month Liberation War in 1971.

On August 15, 1975, the great leader along with most of his family members was assassinated by a cabal of army men.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid deep homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on this occasion.

The Prime Minister paid the homage by placing wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at the historic 32 Dhanmondi Road in the morning.

After laying the wreaths, the Prime Minister stood there in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memory of the Father of the Nation.

Cabinet members, parliament members and political leaders were present.

Later, flanked by party central leaders of Awami League, she placed another wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu on behalf of her party as the president of Bangladesh Awami League.

The President and the Prime Minister paid homage to Bangabandhu by placing wreaths at the mazar (mausoleum) of Bangabandhu at Tungipara in Goplaganj.

President Abdul Hamid first laid a wreath at the mazar of Bangabandhu

followed by the Prime Minister.

After placing the wreaths, they stood there in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memory of the Father of the Nation as the bugle played till the last post.

A smartly turned out contingent drawn from Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force gave an honour guard on the occasion.

Abdul Hamid and Sheikh Hasina offered Fateha and joined a munajat seeking eternal peace of the departed soul of Bangabandhu as well as other martyrs of the August 15 carnage.

Other socio-political organisations also observed the day with various programmes.

Awami League will organise a discussion at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre at 3pm on Saturday. The PM will preside over the programme.