Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina pledged to make Bangladesh a land of gold (Sonar Bangla) as the country celebrated the birth centenary of its founder, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, amidst public health scare over COVID-19 pandemic.

"We must build 'Sonar Bangla' as dreamt by you (Rehman, popularly known as Bangabandhu or friend of Bengal). The day is not far away. It's our commitment to you," she said while addressing the nation during the formal inauguration of the year-long Mujib Borsho (Mujib year) celebrations marking the birth centenary of the "Father of the Nation" on March 17.

Bangladesh, which had planned mega-events to celebrate the birth centenary, postponed the functions after the first coronavirus case surfaced. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi was invited as the chief guest at the inaugural session in capital Dhaka bu his visit was cancelled.  He, however, addressed by video conference. The day was marked as a public holiday.

Addressing the nation through her television address, Hasina said Bangladesh now enjoys a dignified position on the world stage.

Hasina said the country would have to march forward further to establish it as a hunger-and-poverty-free and developed one as dreamt by the founder who was assassinated, along with family members, in his home in 1975 by pro-Pakistan Islamists four years after the country's birth.

The celebrations started with fireworks at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan, also known as Ramna Race Course ground.

Recalling the dedications and sacrifices Bangabandhu made for the well-being of the people of this country, she said he gifted this country named Bangladesh. "He had given Bangalees the dignity of identity as a nation."

She said the world has come to know about Bangladesh following the great sacrifices of Bangabandhu. "Today, your [Bangabandhu's] birth centenary is being celebrated not only in Bangladesh but also across the world," she said.

Indian Prime Minister Modi, Nepal's President Bidhya Devi Bhandari, Bhutanese Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Secretary-General Yousef bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen also greeted Bangladesh.

Modi in his video address said that “Bangabandhu was one of the greatest personalities of the last century.”

Video messages from the Prime Ministers of Nepal and Bhutan, Secretary-General of UN and OIC General Secretary was also telecast on the occasion.