The nation on Wednesday celebrated the 55th Independence and National Day paying tributes to the freedom fighters who made supreme sacrifice in the War of Independence in 1971 to free the country from the Pakistani occupation forces.
The government, political parties, Bangladesh missions abroad, socio-cultural organisations, educational institutions, professional bodies, and other institutions and organisations celebrated the day with different programmes.
The celebration began early Wednesday with gun salutes as a mark of profound respect for the martyrs.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin and chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus first placed wreaths at the National Memorial at Savar.
Later, people from all walks of life, including members of the advisory council, the chief justice, families of Bir Shreshthas, war-wounded freedom fighters, and members of the diplomatic corps, placed wreaths at the National Memorial.
Different political parties and socio-cultural organisations, professional bodies, as well as people from all walks of life, went to the memorial in groups carrying national flags, flowers, banners and festoons and paid their respects to the martyrs.
After paying tribute to the martyrs, environment, forest and climate change and water resources adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said, 鈥榃e will build a consensus going beyond the personal and party interests for the sake of the national interest.鈥�
Each of the individuals has their own outlooks and perspectives, she said, adding that it will take some time to reduce the differences.
Youth and sports adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain said that the 2024 uprising revived the spirit of the independence and the independence would prevail in the days to come.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party led by its standing committee member Mirza Abbas along with party leaders and activists paid tribute to the martyrs at the National Memorial.
鈥楾here is no such thing as second independence in Bangladesh and those who want to undermine Independence Day had no role in the independence of 1971,鈥� Abbas said, mentioning that some people termed the uprising as second independence.
鈥業 would ask them to stop here and they should respect and honour Independence Day,鈥� he said, adding that the nation has got a new taste of independence by ousting the autocracy in the student-people uprising.
Abbas also said, 鈥楾he chief adviser has said that elections will be held in December and we want to keep our faith in that.鈥�
The newly formed National Citizen Party led by its convener Nahid Islam, paid tribute to the 1971 War of Independence martyrs placing wreaths at the memorial.
Nahid said that elections would not be accepted without reforms and trials of the perpetrators of the mass killings during the uprising.
There is no difference between 1971 and 2024 and actually the spirit of 1971 War of Independence has been revived through the mass uprising of 2024, he said.
The day was a national holiday.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin and his wife Rebeka Sultana hosted a reception at Bangabhaban, marking the day.
The chief justice, advisers, ambassadors and high commissioners from various countries, Supreme Court judges and the chiefs of the three armed services, among others, attended the reception.
The national flag was hoisted atop all government, semi-government, autonomous and private buildings in the early hours of the day.
All streets and important city crossing were decorated with national and coloured miniature flags and festoons while important buildings and establishments were illuminated with colourful lights to mark the day.
National dailies brought out special supplements, while Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television, private radio stations and television channels aired special programmes highlighting the significance of the day.
Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Bangla Academy, National Museum, Liberation War Museum, Bangladesh Shishu Academy and other social and cultural organisations organised various events, including discussions, cultural programmes and sports competitions.
Liberation War-based documentaries and movies were screened at cinema halls across the country.
Receptions were also accorded to the freedom fighters and family members of martyred freedom fighters in cities and district and upazila headquarters.
Improved meals were served to the inmates of hospitals, jails, old homes and orphanages.
Children parks and museums remained open for all.
Ships of the Bangladesh Navy and Coast Guard were kept open for the public at Chattogram, Khulna, Mongla and Payra ports as well as Dhaka鈥檚 Sadarghat, Narayanganj鈥檚 Pagla, Barisal and Chandpur BIWTA dockside from 9:00am to 2:00pm.
Bangladesh missions abroad also celebrated the day through various programmes.
The nation marked the celebrations of the historic day as the nation鈥檚 nine-month-long War of Independence began on March 26, 1971 against the Pakistani occupation forces.
Secularism, democracy and socialism were the guiding principles of the War of Independence, which the people of the country embarked on after decades of exploitation and misrule by then-West Pakistani vested interests.
