45th Independence Day today
UNB
Dhaka: The nation is observing the 45th Independence and National Day on Thursday with due solemnity and festivity.
On 26 March 1971, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared Bangladesh’s independence following the crackdown on unarmed Bangladeshis on the midnight of 25 March by the Pakistan occupation army.
After the nine-month War of Independence with the supreme sacrifices of the millions of people, the people of the country achieved its cherished independence on 16 December 1971.
The day is a public holiday.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have issued separate messages on the eve of the Independence and National day.
Both the president and the prime minister greeted the countrymen on the occasion.
In his message, the President said the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman cherished the dream of transforming Bangladesh into ‘Sonar Bangla’.
“The present government has taken up vision 2021 for materalising the dream into reality. It is my expectation that people from all strata would contribute to build an IT-based happy and prosperous Bangladesh through implementing the vision by the golden jubilee celebration of our independence,” he added.
In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the independence earned through the sacrifice of millions of people is the greatest achievement of Bangalee nation.
“To make the achievement meaningful, all would have to know the true history of the Liberation War, retain the spirit the independence. It would have to be spread generation to generations,” she added.
The national flag will be hoisted atop government and private buildings while the government and semi-government buildings and other public places will be illuminated on the auspicious occasion.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina placed wreaths at the National Mausoleum at Savar at sunrise.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina attended a rally of children and juveniles at Bangabandhu National Stadium at 8:30am. She also released stamps at 7:15am at Ganabhaban.
The national and party flags hoisted at Bangabandhu Bhaban at Dhanmondi, party’s central office on Bangabandhu Avenue as well as the offices across the country in the morning.