Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, also the prime minister, today asked the party and its associate bodies to observe Mujib Year till December 16 with separate programmes, including pro-people ones, so that common people can be benefited from the celebrations.

"We'll have to celebrate the time (Mujib Year) in a way so that the common people of the country get its benefits. Simultaneously, we'll have to move on with our festivities. So, we'll arrange these programmes till December 16 next marking the Mujib Year and the Golden Jubilee of Independence," she said while addressing a virtual discussion.

Bangladesh Awami League arranged the discussion at its Bangabandhu Avenue central office, marking the 101th birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the National Children Day 2021.

Hasina chaired the function, joining it virtually from her official residence Gono Bhaban.

The PM also asked AL and its associate bodies to take separate programmes like cultural ones, discussions, essay and other competitions, Doa Mahfil, tree plantation, particularly programmes for supporting the poor up to the grassroots level to observe the Mujib Year after the conclusion of the ongoing 10-day national celebration.

"Our every associate body alongside AL will have to take separate programmes after the national celebration (after March 26). Take different programmes not only in Dhaka city, but also at the grassroots levels -- Union, Upazila and Zila levels," said the AL President.

About the assistance programmes for the poor, she said the most important thing is to help the poor. "We'll have to alleviate the sufferings as much as possible; what the poor are facing due to Coronavirus. You (her party's men) did it as well. The assistance work was done in our country. But we'll have to continue it," she said.

Hasina asked her party's all leaders and activists to continue its tree plantation drive in the Mujib Year. "We perhaps could not arrange a big programme making mass gathering to celebrate the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation, but we took a tree plantation campaign and planted huge trees," she said.

AL general secretary Obaidul Quader delivered the introductory speech, while AL presidium members Begum Matia Chowdhury, MP and Dr Abdur Razzaque, MP; its organising secretaries Ahmed Hossain, Abu Saeed Al Mahmud Swapan, MP and Mirza Azam, MP; its finance and planning secretary Waseqa Ayesha Khan and international affairs, education and human resource secretary Shamsun Nahar Chapa, president of AL Dhaka city north unit Sheikh Bazlur Rahman and general secretary of AL Dhaka city south unit Humayun Kabir spoke on the occasion.

AL publicity and publication secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap, MP, conducted the discussion.