The nation today celebrates the 51st anniversary of its independence.
The war of independence for Bangladesh began on March 26, 1971 following the Pakistan military crackdown on unarmed Bengalis on the night of March 25 and the nine-month-long bloody war ended in the emergence of liberated Bangladesh on December 16, 1971.
Gun salutes, a military parade, discussions, cultural programmes will feature in the celebrations of the country’s Independence and National Day.
President Md Abdul Hamid and prime minister Sheikh Hasina in separate messages greeted and congratulated the people on the occasion of the day.
In his message, the president said, ‘Today is 26th March, our Independence and National Day. On this occasion, I extend my heartfelt greetings and warm felicitations to my fellow countrymen living at home and abroad.’
The president said that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman officially declared the independence of Bangladesh in the early hours of March 26.
‘We have achieved an independent and sovereign Bangladesh through a nine-month-long Liberation War under the able leadership of Bangabandhu,’ he said.
He recalled with deep respect the three million martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the independence war, adding ‘We have achieved our independence for their supreme sacrifice.’
In her message, the prime minister urged all to work together to build a golden Bangladesh free of hunger, poverty and illiteracy, as was dreamt by the country’s founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
‘Today is great Independence and National Day. Bangladesh has entered its 51st year after the golden jubilee of independence. On this auspicious occasion, I extend my sincere greetings and congratulations to all the Bangladeshi citizens living in the country and abroad,’ the premier said.
She remembered with profound respect the founding president of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Sheikh Hasina also remembered the four national leaders who steered the liberation war.
A 31-gun salute at dawn will herald the day.
The president and the prime minister will place wreaths at the National Memorial at Savar after the gun-salute.
After the president and the prime minister, families of the Bir Shreshthas, war-injured freedom fighters, members of the diplomatic corps, leaders of different political parties, social, cultural and professional bodies and people from all walks of life will lay wreaths at the National Memorial.
The day is a public holiday.
The national flag will be flown atop government, semi-government and private buildings and government and private establishments will be illuminated.
Improved food will be served at hospitals, jails, orphanages, vagrant homes, the Muktijoddha Kendra and charity homes.
Newspapers will bring out special supplements while television and radio stations will air special programmes.
Political parties, sociocultural organisations, professional entities and various institutions have planned detailed programmes to mark the day.
The ruling Awami League will hoist the national and party flags at its central office in the capital and all other offices across the country in the early morning.
Then it will place a wreath at the portrait of Sheikh Mujib in front of the Bangabandhu Bhaban at 7:00 am.
The AL central executive committee will place a wreath at the National Memorial at Savar and a team of the party central leaders will place a wreath at the mazar of founding president Sheikh Mujib at Tungipara at 11:00am.
The party will hold a discussion at its central office on Bangabandhu Avenue on March 27 at 3:00pm.
Party president Sheikh Hasina will speak at the discussion virtually.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party will place a wreath at the National Memorial at Savar at 10:00 am and then place a wreath at the mazar of Ziaur Rahman at 11:00am today.
To mark the day, the BNP will bring out a procession from in front of its central office in the capital and the procession will reach the National Press Club and disperse there.
Besides, it will hold a discussion meeting at the Institution of Engineers at 3:00pm on March 30.
