Birthday of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

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. 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
Bangabandhu (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. He didn’t celebrate his birthday personally. He used to rest on this day every year, his wife Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib gave him a gift every year on his birthday. In 1967, he was incarcerated in Central Jail, Dacca. At the year his birthday was celebrated by the provincial branch of Awami League in Dacca, capital of East Pakistan (present-day Dhaka, Bangladesh). Imprisoned in jail, he was happy after receiving the news. Apart from Dacca, the party also organized religious prayer ceremonies on the occasion of birthday in Chittagong, another city of the province. 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. The non-cooperation movement was going on in 1971 during Bangabandhu's birthday. That day he met the then president of Pakistan, Yahya Khan. After meeting foreign journalists, he returned to his residence. People came to his residence that day to wish 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. 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.

After East Pakistan achieved independence as the People's Republic of Bangladesh in 1972, Bangabandhu's birthday became a public holiday. However, it was made a public holiday not to celebrate his birthday but to honor Indira Gandhi, prime minister of India, who was scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh on his birthday that year. Also, it was announced that the day would not be a public holiday from the following year. The day was declared as "the day for hard work and dedication to the greater good". On that day, Indira Gandhi visited Bangladesh and gave presents to Bangabandhu for his birthday. The then finance minister of the country, Tajuddin Ahmad, in an official statement wished him long life on his birthday. To celebrate the birthday, 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. Various political organizations celebrated his birthday in 1973. 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. A 55 pound cake was ordered by BAKSAL to celebrate Bangabandhu's 55th birthday. He was assassinated with his family in August 15 of the same year.

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. Until 1995, the Awami League and its organisations faced adversity in celebrating Bangabandhu's birthday. 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. 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. 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. In 2020, the government declared the year Mujib Year to celebrate his birthday as centenary. In 2023, by amending the "Flag Rules of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, 1972", hoisting of the Bangladeshi flag at the structures on the day birthday was made mandatory.

Bangabandhu's perspective
"আব্বা 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." 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. He didn't consider himself a birthday person. 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. After Bangladesh's independence, he spent time carrying out his duties as prime minister and president on his birthdays until his death.

Observances
It is observed as a public holiday throughout the country. Events and programs are organized on the occasion of the day in different parts of the country. Various programs are 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 are provided in government-run hospitals of the country. Radio and television channels organize special programs and shows to mark the day. On this day, the Islamic Foundation Bangladesh organizes prayer meetings and Quran recitations across the country. The Awami League organizes discussion meetings on Bangabandhu's birthday as well.