The nation is celebrating the 44th Independence Day to pay tributes to those who had embraced martyrdom to liberate the country from Pakistani rule.
A 31-gun salute at dawn marked the beginning of the celebrations on Wednesday. National flags were hoisted atop all government buildings and others.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid their respects by placing floral wreath at the National Mausoleum at Savar in the morning.
Sheikh Hasina also placed wreath as Awami League president. Opposition leader of the parliament Rawshan Ershad also her respect to the martyrs.
The National Mausolum was later opened for all.
On this day in 1971, the nation woke into the dawn of blood-stained atrocities left by Pakistani occupation forces of the black night of March 25.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared a fight for independence before being arrested on March 25. Later, Ziaur Rahman reiterated a call for independence on behalf of Bangabandhu.
The valiant Bangalees vowed to resist the Pakistani forces on this day and engaged in a nine-month civil war that ultimately led to the birth of Bangladesh.
