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Independence Day today

President, PM greet countrymen

File photo used only for representation
File photo used only for representation

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The nation celebrates the 53rd Independence and National Day today (Sunday) vowing afresh to take the country towards prosperity with the Liberation War spirit, reports UNB.

On March 26, 1971, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared Bangladesh's independence following the crackdown on unarmed Bangalees on the midnight of March 25 by the Pakistani occupation forces.

After the nine-month War of Liberation in which three million people embraced martyrdom and 200 thousand (two lakh) women lost their chastity, Bangladesh achieved its cherished independence on December 16, 1971.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages extending heartfelt greetings and warm felicitations to Bangladesh citizens at home and abroad.

The public holiday will begin with a gun salute and wreath-laying ceremony at Savar's National Memorial in honour of the Liberation War martyrs.

At sunrise, the national flag will be flown over all government, semi-government, private, and autonomous buildings, and all significant buildings and establishments will be illuminated.

Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television, private radio stations, and television channels will air special programmes highlighting the significance of the day.

Bangla Academy, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Shishu Academy, National Museum, Liberation War Museum, and other social and cultural organizations will host seminars, cultural programs, painting and sports competitions for children, as well as film and documentary screenings about the liberation war.

The families of martyrs and freedom fighters will be honoured at the metropolitan, district, and upazila levels. The Bangladesh Post Office Department will unveil a special commemorative stamp to mark the day.

Different religious institutions will hold special prayers and doa mehfil praying for the country's peace, development and prosperity.

Special-quality food will be distributed at institutions like hospitals, jails, children's homes, old-age homes, and day-care centres.

Children's parks and museums will remain open to all throughout the day. Also, vessels of the Bangladesh Navy and Coast Guard will remain open from 2 p.m. until the evening for people to visit at Chattogram Khulna, Mongla, Payra Port, and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) terminals in Dhaka, Narayanganj, Barishal and Chandpur.

Similar programmes at district and upazila levels and Bangladesh embassies in different countries will be arranged to highlight the significance of Independence Day.

BSS adds: In the message President Md Abdul Hamid said people-oriented and sustainable development, good governance, social justice, transparency and accountability must be ensured in the country in order to achieve the desired goal of Independence.

"In order to achieve the desired goal of Independence, we must ensure people-oriented and sustainable development, good governance, social justice, transparency and accountability," he said.

President Abdul Hamid said forbearance, human rights and rule of law have to be consolidated for institutionalizing democracy.

"It is our sacred duty to ensure a safe, happy, beautiful and prosperous Bangladesh for the new generation," he said.

He extended his heartfelt greetings and warm felicitations to the fellow countrymen living at home and abroad.

"On this day, I remember with profound respect the architect of our independent Bangladesh, the greatest Bangalee of all time Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. On the fateful night of March 25, 1971, the invading forces of Pakistan suddenly attacked the unarmed Bangalees," he said.

The President said in the early hours of March 26, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman officially declared the Independence of Bangladesh.

"We 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 millions of martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the War of Liberation.

"I recall with deep reverence our Four National Leaders, heroic freedom-fighters, organizers, supporters. foreign friends and people from all walks of life who made contributions to attain our right to self-determination and freedom movement," he said.

He said Bangabandhu always cherished a dream of building a happy and prosperous country along with attaining political emancipation.

The present government has been rendering untiring efforts in materializing the dream of Bangabandhu, he said, adding that today, Bangladesh is moving towards the highway of development at an inexorable pace.

"We have achieved enormous success in various areas of socio-economic development including poverty alleviation, education, health, human resource development, women empowerment, reduction of child and maternal mortality rates, elimination of gender discrimination and increase in average life expectancy," he said.

The President said poverty rate has dropped whereas per capita income has increased. A huge number of landless and homeless people are being rehabilitated, he added.

"The Padma Bridge, constructed with our own resources and the Metrorail has already been opened for traffic. Works of Payra Deep Sea Port, Karnafuli Tunnel, Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport's Third Terminal and Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant are also progressing uninterruptedly," he said.

In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called upon all Bangladeshis to nurture the spirit and ideals of the Great Liberation War and participate in building the hunger-poverty-free, self-confident, and self-respecting 'Golden Bangladesh' of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's dream.

"Today (March 26) is the great Independence and National Day. Bangladesh entered its 52nd 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.

"I remember with the most profound respect the greatest Bengali of all time, the great architect of Bangladesh, the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, under whose firm and far-sighted leadership we got an independent country," she added.

She remembered the four national leaders, including the war organizers, who steered the liberation war with their able guidance.

The debt of the blood of 3 million martyrs of the liberation war and the self-sacrifice of two hundred thousand mothers and sisters will never be repaid, she said.

The prime minister paid her deep respects to all the fearless freedom fighters, including the war-wounded.

"I am grateful to all the friendly countries, organisations, institutions, and individuals, particularly the then Prime Minister of India, Shrimati Indira Gandhi, for their generous support during the War," she said.

She said young student leader Sheikh Mujib, who was studying in the Department of Law at Dhaka University, had dreamed of establishing a sovereign state in this land since the creation of Pakistan in 1947.

Pakistanis' social, economic, and political discriminatory attitudes became clear day by day, she said

The premier said Sheikh Mujib remained steadfast in defending the rights and dignity of the Bengalis in return for any sacrifice.

The two organisations of his far-reaching thoughts are the Chhatra League and the Awami League, where he was deeply involved from the beginning until the end of his life, she said.

She said from the language movement of '52 to the victory of the United Front election of '54, the anti-Ayub movement of '62, six points of '66, and the mass upsurge of '69, these two organizations had an immense role in the struggles.

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