The nation paid tributes to martyrs of the Liberation War, celebrating the 41st Independence and National Day on Monday. Thousands of people from all walks of life were present at the National Memorial at Savar since early morning.
People renewed their pledge to uphold the spirit of the Liberation War and build a happy, prosperous and secular Bangladesh. This was followed by thunderous slogans for an intensified campaign for expediting the trial of war criminals of 1971 to free the nation from a stigma, carried over the past 41 years.
President Md Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina were the first to lay wreaths at the National Memorial early in the morning. A smartly turned out squad of the armed forces then presented a guard of honour, while the Last Post was sounded on the bugle as a mark of respect to the martyrs. Later, Sheikh Hasina, who is also the Awami League president, along with party leaders,laid wreaths at the memorial.
A 31-gun salute at the Old Airport at Tejgaon early in the morning heralded the day. The national flag was hoisted atop all government and private buildings, while major streets and important city intersections were decorated with national and multi-coloured miniature flags and festoons. Important buildings and establishments and the city streets and islands were illuminated with colourful lights in the evening.
Speaker Advocate Abdul Hamid, Deputy Speaker Shawkat Ali and chief whip vice-principal Abdus Shaheed also placed wreaths at the memorial. Members of the cabinet, Jatiya Sangsad and the Diplomatic Corps and the chiefs of the armed forces and senior civil and military officials were present.
The leader of the Opposition, BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, along with BNP central leaders, also laid wreaths at the memorial.
Then she visited the Mazar of BNP founder Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman. She also joined the Doa Mahfil, organised by the Jatiytabadi Ulema Dal at the mazar premises.
The Jatiya Party president, Hussain Muhammad Ershad, accompanied by party leaders and leaders of the Awami League-led 14-party alliance, the war wounded freedom fighters and foreign friends of the War of Liberation, who were accorded reception for their contributions in 1971, also paid tribute to the martyrs at the memorial.
The political parties and other socio-cultural-professional organisations and educational institutions which placed wreaths at the memorial include the Jatiya Party (JP), Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Inu), Workers’ Party, Samybadi Dal, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh, Gano Azadi League, National Awami Party, Gano Forum, Liberal Democratic Party, PDP, NAP (Bhasani), BSD, Samajtantrik Front, Bangabandhu Parishad, Sector Commanders’ Forum, Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU), Crime Reporters’ Association, Dhaka University and Jahangirnagar University.
Chhatra League, Jatiya Sramik League, Krishak League, Awami Juba League, Swechchasebak League, Juba Dal, ADAB, Mahila Parishad, Krishibid Institution, SKOP, Trade Union Centre, Engineers’ Institution, Proshika, Swadhinata Chikitshak Parishad, Anti-corruption Commission and other organisations also placed wreaths at the memorial.
The nation also paid glowing tribute to the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, by placing wreaths at his portrait at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi.
Sheikh Hasina, together with party stalwarts and members of the Cabinet, Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad, Deputy Speaker and Chief Whip placed wreaths there.
The deputy leader of the House, Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Dr SA Malek, Abul Mal Abdul Muhith, Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta, Begum Matia Chowdhury, Abdul Latif Siddiqui, Obaidul Quader, Advocate Sahara Khatun, Advocate Yusuf Hossain Humayun, Satish Chandra Roy, Syed Ashraful Islam, Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif, Dr Dipu Moni, Abul Kalam Azad and others were present.
Later, people in large numbers gathered there shouting slogans to expedite the trial of war criminals. The ministry of liberation war affairs and Dhaka district administration jointly organised a children-juvenile rally at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
The Prime Minister inaugurated the rally and took the salute of the march-past by children of different institutions, BNCC, scouts, girl guides and other disciplines, while a colourful and acrobatic display attracted the crowd at the jam-packed stadium.
President Md Zillur Rahman hosted a reception for dignitaries, noted citizens and diplomats at Bangabhaban in the afternoon.
Newspapers brought out special supplements, while Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television and private radio stations and TV channels aired special programmes highlighting the significance of the day.
Special prayers were offered at all mosques, temples, churches and other places of worship marking the occasion seeking divine blessings for the eternal peace of the departed souls of Father of the Nation, four national leaders, martyrs of the War of Liberation and other patriots.
The Islamic Foundation, Bangladesh (IFB) held Quran Khwani and Doa Mahfil at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in the city and in its district offices across the country.
Courtesy of The Independent
http://theindependentbd.com/paper-edition/frontpage/129-frontpage/101861-nation-renews-pledge-to-uphold-liberation-spirit.html
Independence Day, Bangladesh
