Independence Day today
The nation today celebrates the 48th Independence and National Day to pay homage to all martyrs and valiant souls who made supreme sacrifice for the country's independence.
The day's main event will commence at dawn when the president and the prime minister will pay their tributes to the martyrs by placing wreaths at the National Memorial at Savar.
Families of Bir Shreshthas, freedom fighters, leaders and activists of different political parties, sociocultural and professional organisations, people from all walks of life and members of foreign diplomatic missions, will also lay wreaths.
Every year, March 26 brings the most tragic reminiscence of the history's blackest episode that heralded a nine-month bloody ordeal from the night following March 25, 1971 in achieving the long-cherished independence on December 16 the same year.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared the independence in the wee hours of March 26 after the Pakistani forces had brutally cracked down on the unarmed people of the then East Pakistan on the night of March 25, 1971.
The valiant Bangalis took up arms and fought for independence under the leadership of Bangabandhu.
The long-cherished victory was finally achieved on December 16 after a nine-month struggle at the cost of blood and untold sufferings of the people.
A 31-gun salute at dawn will mark the beginning of the day's celebrations. National flags will be hoisted atop all government and private buildings throughout Bangladesh and the office premises of Bangladesh diplomatic missions and Consular posts. Major buildings will be illuminated for a festive look on the occasion.
The day is a public holiday.
The state-owned Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television as well as private radio stations and television channels will air special programmes to commemorate the national heroes. National dailies will publish special supplements highlighting the significance of the day.
Special meals will be served at hospitals, prisons, orphanages and other public and charity organisations.
Different political parties as well as sociocultural and professional organisations have drawn elaborate programmes to observe the day in a befitting manner.
The programmes include hoisting the national flag, placing wreaths at the National Memorial, offering special prayers, holding seminars, discussions and cultural functions.
In a message issued on the eve of the Independence Day, President Abdul Hamid said, "The great Independence Day is a glorious one in our national life."
The president also urged all, living at home and abroad, to work together being imbued with the spirit of war of liberation and democratic values to make the hard-earned independence more meaningful and to expedite further progress and democratic advancement of the country.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her message yesterday, on the eve of the 48th Independence and National Day, called upon the country's citizens to be imbued with the spirit of the Liberation War and renew their vows for the advancement of the country's development and democracy.
"Let's work together to build a non-communal, hunger and poverty-free, and a happy and prosperous Sonar Bangla as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman... On the historic day, this is our commitment," she said.
The premier also urged the countrymen to foil the evil design of the anti-liberation and communal forces to impede country's democracy and development.
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