The gentle morning breeze was cutting through the early summer heat on the Dhaka-Aricha Highway. Md Mokhles, along with his daughter, were waiting in a queue to pay tributes to the Liberation War heroes along the highway.
The gate to the National Martyrs' Memorial in Savar was opened to the public after President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid rich tributes to the martyrs. Despite the long wait, Mokhles and his daughter were happy to be able to join thousands at the memorial on the outskirts of Dhaka in celebrating the 54th Independence Day and National Day.
The ceremony started at 5:56am. The president and prime minister were followed by Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck in paying tribute to the martyrs.
After laying the wreaths, the president, the premier, and the king stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the martyrs of the great Liberation War of 1971.
A smartly turned-out contingent drawn from the Bangladesh Army, Navy, and Air Force presented a state salute at that time while the bugles played the last post.
The head of state, the head of government, and the Bhutanese king and queen signed the visitors' book kept on the memorial premises.
While signing the book, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reiterated her pledge to develop Bangladesh into a prosperous country. President Sahabuddin expressed hope in his note that the country will move forward and will stand tall in the heart of the world as a developed, prosperous, and one.
The visitors also planted saplings on the premises of the memorial.
The memorial was opened for all around 6:30am. One by one, the Speaker of the Parliament, the ministers and the chiefs of the three armed forces paid tribute to the martyrs.
Leaders of different political parties also placed wreaths at the altar.
Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on the occasion said: "Today there is still a debate about the declaration of the independence of our country. Even after so many years, that debate continues. Our statement is that one cannot be an announcer by only reading out the declaration."
After placing a wreath at the altar, BNP Standing Committee Member Abdul Moyeen Khan questioned the Awami League's narrative of the independence struggle. He questioned their departure from the battlefield on March 25, 1971, amid the Pakistani military's crackdown. Contrarily, he highlighted BNP founder Ziaur Rahman’s role in defiantly declaring Bangladesh's independence and actively engaging in the Liberation War.
"Ziaur Rahman declared the struggle for independence publicly [on March 27, 1971]. The declaration was not only made in Bangladesh but was also broadcast all over the world. People all over the world came to know that an independent country was going to be born,” Moyeen Khan said.
Regretting that the spirit of the Liberation War was missing from the country’s politics, Gano Forum President Mofizul Islam Khan Kamal said: "Even though we have achieved freedom, we have not yet been freed. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahma called for the liberation struggle. On his call, we risked our lives and liberated the country. But unfortunately, even after five decades of independence, we have not realized our independence.”
Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal General Secretary Bazlur Rashid Firoz said: "The main spirit and aspiration of independence was to protect and establish democracy. Even after 54 years of independence, that democracy remains elusive.”
Similarly, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal Vice President Tanya Rob also spoke to the media and said that the people are still far from achieving their freedom.
Ganosamhati Andolan Chief Coordinator Zonayed Saki told the media that the Liberation War is not time-bound and did not end in 1971. The struggle is continuing, he said.
However, Jubo League Chairman Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash thinks that there is a lesson to be learned from the government. "The youth can learn from the way Sheikh Hasina is serving the country."
Meanwhile, students from various institutions in Savar and Gazipur also came to pay tribute to the martyrs. They displayed a 64-foot-long flag as part of their tribute to the heroes of the country’s Liberation War.
Akram Hossain came from Savar to pay tribute to the martyrs. He said: "Due to the month of Ramadan, when the people are fasting, the turnout is comparatively less. I came from Dhaka with my family in the morning. Many of my office colleagues left Dhaka soon after Sahri. It feels very good to be able to join here with everyone.”
Eva, a student, said: "I had planned to come to the memorial today. I came here with my friends. It feels good to pay tribute to the brave sons of the nation.”
Mizanur Rahman, deputy assistant engineer at the memorial, said thousands came to pay their tribute to the martyred heroes. The premise was filled up soon after it was opened to all, he added. "After opening the memorial to the public in the morning, people paid their respects in droves. The altar is gradually filled with flowers of respect.
Additional members of law enforcement agencies were deployed ahead of the huge gathering at the National Martyrs' Memorial, he said.
