Dhaka, March 19 -- Bangladesh started celebrating Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's birth centenary and the golden jubilee of the country's independence as the 10-day special programmes began in Dhaka on March 17.

Key streets and strategically important places and structures in Dhaka have been decorated with colorful festoons, flags and banners as part of the country's biggest ever celebrations in recent times.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and famous British journalist Sir Mark Tully sent pre-recorded video messages on the first day of the 10-day programme that will continue until March 26.

President Abdul Hamid, his wife Rashida Khan...