Homage to martyrs

The nation yesterday celebrated the 45th Independence Day, paying rich tributes to three million martyrs who made the supreme sacrifice to free the country from Pakistani rule through a bloody war in 1971.

On March 26, Bangalees launched the Liberation War against the Pakistani junta that denied Awami League its legitimate right to form government, although it won absolute majority in parliament in the 1970 general elections.

The Pakistan occupation forces began a brutal crackdown on the Bangalees on the Black Night of March 25, 1971, killing thousands of unarmed civilians and forcing the Bangalees to take up arms against them.

Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared independence before the Pakistani army arrested him in the early hours of March 26.

After a nine-month bloody war, Bangladesh won victory on December 16 the same year at a cost of three million lives.

Yesterday was a public holiday. The Independence Day's programmes began with gun salutes at the National Parade Ground at dawn. 

President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina led the nation in commemorating the day by placing wreaths on the altar of the National Memorial in Savar around 6:00am, reports UNB. 

They stood there in solemn silence for some time as a mark of respect to the memories of the martyrs, while a contingent drawn from Bangladesh Army, Navy and the Air Force presented state salute.

The chief justice, speaker, deputy speaker, deputy leader of parliament, ministers, advisers to the prime minister, state ministers, the chiefs of the three services, diplomats, high civil and military officials, and freedom fighters were also present.

Leaders and activists of the Awami League, BNP and other political parties also placed wreaths there.

President Abdul Hamid signed the visitor's book.

The premier, also chief of the AL, placed wraths at the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi.

Hasina attended a children's rally at Bangabandhu National Stadium in the morning. She also released a commemorative postage stamp at the Gono Bhaban.

President Hamid and Prime Minister Hasina issued separate messages greeting the people.

In his message, the president said Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman dreamt of transforming Bangladesh into Sonar Bangla and the present government has taken           up Vision-2021 to materialise the dream.

"It is my expectation that people from all strata would contribute to building an IT-based happy and prosperous Bangladesh through implementing the vision by the golden jubilee celebration of our independence," he added.

Hasina said independence is the greatest achievement of the Bangalee nation, and all have to know the true history of the Liberation War and retain the spirit of the independence.

The national flag was hoisted atop government and private buildings while the government and semi-government buildings and other public places were illuminated on the occasion.

Various socio-political and cultural organisations held discussions, rallies, cultural events in the city and elsewhere in the country.

Gonojagoron Mancha arranged a Swadhinata Concert in front of the National Museum. Films on the Liberation War were screened at the museum; a book fair was arranged on the Public Library premises. The cultural affairs ministry also organised a programme at Swadhinata Stambha in Suhrawardy Udyan.

Sammilita Sangskritik Jote arranged a cultural event at Rabindra Sarobor and at Central Shaheed Minar.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished Bangladesh on the occasion. A Bangla message from him termed Bangladesh an "enduring and important friend" of India.

The most popular search engine, Google, outlaid its cover page with green and red, depicting the essence of the country's independence.

In a joint initiative, Information and Communication Technology Division, Bangladesh Computer Council, and Google Developer Group Bangla, added more than 400,000 new Bangla words to Google Translate.

At the memorial, eminent jurist Dr Kamal Hossain said their dream in 1971 was to establish a liberal, corruption-free, democratic society, which is yet to be done.

 "No individual or a family is owner of the country, but the people own it. We dream of a country for the people and ruled by the people," he observed.