The 73rd birthday of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also president of the Bangladesh Awami League, will be celebrated across the country today, report agencies.
Sheikh Hasina, the eldest of five children of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Begum Fazilatunnesa, was born in Gopalganj's Tungipara this day, September 28, in 1947.
Like previous years, the Awami League and its affiliated organisations will celebrate the day through various programmes. But this time there is an added attraction for them that for the first time, since returning to power as prime minister in 2009, she will be in Dhaka for her birthday.
Previously, more-or-less every year from 2009 to 2019, her birthday was spent in New York City or its surrounding areas, where she would be attending the annual meeting of the UN General Assembly, held every September.
Marking her birthday, different programmes including doa and milad-mahfils, special prayers, photo exhibitions and discussions will be organised in the capital and different parts of the country maintaining the health guidelines amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
As part of the Awami League's central programmes, a special doa and milad-mahfil will be held with participation of a limited number of leaders at the central office in Dhaka city's Bangabandhu Avenue at 3:30pm.
Besides, a doa and milad-mahfil will be held at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque centrally and all other mosques throughout the country after Zahr prayers.
Special prayers will also be offered at International Buddhist Monastery (Bihar) at Merul Badda at 9am, Christian Association Bangladesh (CAB) Mirpur Baptist Church at 10am, Jakmala Rani Church at Tejgaon at 6am and Dhakeshwari Temple at 11am on the day. The Awami League central leaders will be present in the function, said a release.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended heartiest congratulations to Sheikh Hasina on the eve of her 73rd birthday.
