DHAKA, March 26, 2023 (BSS) - The nation is celebrating the 53rd Independence
and National Day today in a befitting manner.

President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave separate
messages on the eve of the day.

The day's programmes began by heralding gun salutes early in the morning
as a mark of profound respect to the heroic struggle of this nation, which
suffered a protracted subjugation under foreign rules from time to time till
achieving their coveted Independence in 1971.

The national flag is hoisted atop all government, semi-government,
autonomous and private buildings with the rises of sun while all streets and
important city intersections are decorated with national and multi-
coloured miniature flags and festoons.

Bands of different forces played music at different important points in
Dhaka.

Important buildings and establishments as well as city streets and islands
are illuminated with colourful lights.

The National Martyrs' Memorial at Savar became the main venue of the day's
celebration.

President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina placed wreaths
early in the morning as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the
martyrs.

People from all walks of life, including families of Bir Shreshthas, war
wounded freedom fighters, members of the diplomatic corps, leaders of
different political parties, social, cultural and professional bodies, also
 laid wreaths at the national memorial in the morning of the day.

On the occasion, President M Abdul Hamid and his wife Rashida Khanam will
host a reception at the Bangabhaban today.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will join the reception on the lawn of the
Bangabhaban at about 5 pm.

A Bangabhaban Spokesman told BSS that around 2,500 guests, including cabinet
members, advisers, ambassadors and high commissioners of different countries,
state ministers, Supreme Court judges, chiefs of the three services, members
of parliament, senior political leaders, editors, journalist leaders, senior
civil and military officers, academics, business community leaders, artistes,
valiant freedom fighters and family members of Birshreshtha gallantry award
recipients and distinguished citizens will attend the Independence and
National Day reception.

President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will cut a cake on the
occasion of the day.

They will exchange greetings with the injured freedom fighters and other
dignitaries and guests at the function.

Later, the reception will be followed by an iftar party.

National dailies brought out special supplements while Bangladesh Betar,
Bangladesh Television, private radio stations and television channels are
airing month-long special programmes on the Liberation War and 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 will arrange discussions, cultural programmes and sports
competition while painting competition for children, essay and debate
competitions will be organised.

Liberation War based documentaries and movies will be screened at cinema
halls across the country.

Reception will be accorded to the freedom fighters and the members of
martyred freedom fighters at city, zilla and upazila levels while Bangladesh
Postal Office will publish commemorating postal stamps.

Special prayers will be offered at all mosques, temples, churches and other
places of worship across the country seeking divine blessings for the eternal
peace of the departed souls of Father of the Nation, four national leaders,
martyrs of the War of Liberation and all other patriotic sons of the soil.

Improved meals will be served to the inmates of hospitals, jails, old homes
and orphanage centres to mark the day. The country's all children's parks and
museums will remain open for all.

Ships of Bangladesh Navy and Coast Guard will be kept open for public at
Chittagong, Khulna, Mongla and Payra ports and Dhaka's Sadarghat,
Narayanganj's Pagla, Barisal and Chandpur BIWTA dockside from 9 am to 2 pm on the day.

The missions abroad will also celebrate the day through similar programmes.

Every year, the March 26 brings the most tragic reminiscence of the history's
blackest episode that heralded a nine-month bloody ordeal from the night of
March 25, 1971, achieving the long-cherished independence on December 16 the
same year at the cost of a sea of blood.

In the wake of the military crackdown, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who became the undisputed leader of the then Pakistan
following the massive victory of his party, Awami League, in the 1970 general
elections, declared the independence of Bangladesh through the then EPR (East
Pakistan Rifles) wireless at 00-30 hours on March 26 (the night following
March 25) in 1971 at his historic Road-32 residence at Dhanmondi here.

The great leader also called upon the people to build up strong resistance
against the Pakistani barbaric occupation forces.

The Pakistani military junta, in a bid to stop the legitimate movement of
the Bangalees, arrested Bangabandhu on that night following his declaration
of independence.

Later, Bangabandhu was taken to the then West Pakistan where he had to spend
nine months in a dark condemned cell.

Bangabandhu wrote down the declaration of independence soon after the
Pakistani army cracked down on the fateful night of March 25, 1971.

The declaration of independence was soon put on air by wireless. The
declaration was first broadcast by Awami League leader MA Hannan from
Kalurghat Radio Station in the port city of Chittagong on March 26, 1971.

The Pakistani military junta in their monstrous outburst unleashed a bloody
holocaust breaking the silence of the night following March 25 in 1971 when
they mercilessly killed hundreds of innocent sleeping Bangalees, including
teachers, students, police, soldiers, pedestrians and rickshaw-pullers, here.

The nation soon launched the War of Liberation at the call of Father of the
Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the early hours of March 26.

Bangladesh emerged as an independent and sovereign country on December 16,
1971 with the surrender of the Pakistani occupation forces, who killed three
million innocent civilians, perpetrated atrocities on two lakh Bangalee women
and burnt down lakhs of houses across the country during the nine-month
bloody war.