Kathmandu: The Embassy of Bangladesh in Kathmandu, Nepal celebrated the 99th Birth Anniversary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and National Children’s Day on Sunday, 17 March 2019 with due festivity and respect.

The day’s programme began by placing of floral wreaths in front of the portrait of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the Chancery by the Ambassador and officers and members of the staff of the Mission, representatives of the SAARC Secretariat, Bangladesh Biman officials, members of the expatriate Bangladesh community living in Kathmandu and children from various local schools. The wreath laying was followed by a observing a minutes‘ silence to show respect to the Father of the Nation and ‘Doa Mahfil’ where all present prayed for the salvation of the departed soul of Bangabandhu and for his martyred family members as well as the eternal peace of the souls of martyrs who sacrificed their lives during the glorious War of Liberation in 1971. This was followed by reading out of the messages of the Hon’ble President, Hon’ble Prime Minister, Hon’ble Foreign Minister and Hon'ble State Minister for Foreign Affairs.

This was followed by distribution of prizes to the winners of a painting, elocution and essay writing competition organized by the Embassy in collaboration with the Kathmandu Vidyakunja Secondary School, a renowned school in Kathmandu. H.E. the Ambassador distributed the prizes to the winners. The Embassy then screened a documentary on the life of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The programme concluded with a short discussion session on the life of the Father of the Nation which was participated by the Principal of the Kathmandu Vidyakunja Secondary School, officials from the SAARC Secretariat and members of the Bangladesh community living in Kathmandu. In the concluding remarks, H.E. Ms. Mashfee Binte Shams, Ambassador paid homage to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and recalled with due respect his life-long struggle to give the children of his country a happy and prosperous future. She also stated that Bangladesh was well on its way for the realization of ‘Sonar Bangla’ as envisioned by our Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman under the dynamic leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The programme was attended by children and faculty from various local schools in Kathmandu, offices and members of the SAARC Secretariat and Biman Bangladesh Airlines, officers and staff members of the Mission and the expatriate Bangladesh community living in Nepal.