The grand rally scheduled for the 17th March ceremony of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's birth centenary at the National Parade Ground has been postponed hours after the first cases of the coronavirus were reported in the country.

Foreign heads of states and dignitaries invited for the proceedings may also not attend the event.

Dr Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury, chief coordinator of the committee, made the announcement at the International Mother Language Institute, immediately after the first ever coronavirus case in the country was reported.

The yearlong programmes taken to celebrate the 'Mujib Borsho' have also been rearranged considering public health safety concerns, reports UNB.

In the meantime, large public gatherings for the events will be avoided.

The rearranged schedules will be announced at a later date after a meeting later today of the Mujib Borsho national implementation committee.