Bangladesh will celebrate 43 years of independence today with a fresh vow to uphold the spirit of the Liberation War and materialise the dreams of the valiant freedom fighters and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The celebrations for the 44rd National Day will be highlighted by the rendering of the national anthem by over three lakh people in an attempt to set a world record.
The cultural affairs ministry and the Armed Forces Division have jointly organised the mass singing of the national anthem, “Amar Sonar Bangla”, at the National Parade Grounds in the capital, according to state-run news agency BSS.
The day will be heralded with a 31-gun salute at dawn as a mark of respect to the heroic struggle of the nation, which suffered protracted subjugation under foreign rule from time to time until emerging as the independent country of Bangladesh in 1971.
The nation will pay tribute to the martyrs and veterans of the Liberation War on the occasion by laying wreaths at the National Memorial at Savar in the morning.
The president, prime minister, the chiefs of different political parties and the armed forces, foreign diplomats, the families of war martyrs and wounded freedom fighters, along with people from all walks of life will join in the homage.
The national flag will fly atop all government and private buildings, while streets will be decorated with miniature flags and multi-coloured festoons. Important buildings and roads will also be illuminated with bright lights.
A children’s rally will be held at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in the morning, with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as the chief guest.
The day this year carries a special significance in national life as the younger generation, imbued with the spirit of the Liberation War, has been demanding a ban on anti-liberation forces like Jamaat-e-Islami and prompt execution of the verdicts of the war crimes tribunals.
On the eve of the day, President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages calling upon the nation to uphold the spirit of the Liberation War and fulfill the dreams of the freedom fighters, who embraced martyrdom for the cause of the motherland.
Every year, March 26 brings tragic reminders of the “black night” of March 25, 1971, when thousands of unarmed Bangalees were massacred in Dhaka and other towns in erstwhile East Pakistan, by the Pakistani army.
That black episode led to the declaration of independence on March 26, triggering a bloody war that culminated in victory for Bangladesh nine months later on December 16 with the surrender of the Pakistani forces.
