March 7 Speech: Nationwide celebration today

The recognition of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's historic March 7 speech by the Unesco is going to be celebrated across the country today. 

Cabinet Secretary Shafiul Alam announced this while addressing a press briefing at the Cabinet Division yesterday.

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As part of the celebration, jubilant processions, essay and quiz competitions and screening of films on the Liberation War will be held in 64 districts, upazilas and the capital.

Bangladesh missions abroad will also hold the similar programmes.

"The government has decided to celebrate the programme as the Unesco recognised Bangabandhu's historic March 7 speech as a world documentary heritage, which is a great achievement for the entire nation," said the cabinet secretary.

In the capital, the celebration will begin at noon through placing wreaths at the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Dhanmondi Road-32.

Later, a procession from there will move towards Suhrawardy Udyan where Bangabandhu had delivered the landmark speech in a mammoth gathering on March 7, 1971.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to address a grand rally as the chief guest at the same venue at 3:00pm.

Following the PM's address, a cultural function and a laser show will also be held, the cabinet secretary added.

Besides, programmes in districts and upazilas will begin at 10:00am through placing wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu.

Apart from this, educational institutions across the country will organise essay, quiz and general knowledge competitions.

Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and private TV channels will air the programmes live while newspapers will publish special supplements on the day.

The historic March 7 speech has been included in the Memory of World International Register, a list of world's important documentary heritage maintained by the Unesco.

ROUTE MAP FOR PROCESSION

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police fixed the route map for today's procession.

The procession will be brought out from Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at noon. It will end at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan after marching through Russell Square on Mirpur Road, Kalabagan, Science Laboratory intersection, Bata Signal-Katabon crossing, Shahbagh and Sabir Hat in front of Dhaka University Fine Arts Faculty, said a DMP press release.

Suhrawardy Udyan gates at Sabir Hat, Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) of DU, opposite to Bangla Academy, Ramna Kali Mandir and Teen Netar Mazar will be used as entry points.

The DMP requested the intending participants of the procession to follow the route map and cooperate with the traffic division.