Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-26 22:26:09|Editor: Xiaoxia Video Player Close DHAKA, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh on Tuesday celebrated the country's 49th Independence Day amid tight security. The day, a national holiday in Bangladesh, was celebrated with parades and paying of respect at Jatiyo Smriti Soudho, the national memorial at Savar on the outskirts of Dhaka. At Tuesday dawn, on behalf of the nation, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid tribute to martyrs of the Liberation War at the National Memorial in Savar. The celebrations began with a 31-gun salute at dawn by a smartly turned-out contingent drawn from the Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force while the bugles played the last post. Wearing the red and green of the Bangladeshi flag, people of all ages and all walks of life also thronged the national memorial to pay respect to war heroes. On March 26 every year, Bangladesh commemorates the country's declaration of independence on late hours of March 25, 1971. This year the government put in place tight security for the 49th Independence Day. Additional law enforcement personnel have been deployed to strengthen surveillance especially in Dhaka's diplomatic Gulshan, Banani and Baridhara areas since Sunday afternoon after threats of militant attacks were reported. Law enforcers were seen frisking people and setting up check-posts in Dhaka's key diplomatic zones.<doc-sep>The nation is celebrating the 49th Independence and National Day with a fresh vow to take Bangladesh towards prosperity with the spirit of Liberation War. On March 26, 1971, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared Bangladesh's independence following the crackdown on unarmed Bangalees on the midnight of March 25 by the Pakistani occupation forces. After the nine-month War of Liberation with the supreme sacrifices of three million martyrs and the honour of two lakh women, Bangladesh achieved its cherished independence on December 16, 1971. The day is a public holiday. Different sociocultural and political organisations have chalked out elaborate programmes on the occasion. National anthem 'Amar Sonar Bangla' will be sung simultaneously across the country and Bangladesh missions abroad. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will lead the nation in singing the national anthem at the main programme of 'Jatiya Shishu Kishore Samabesh', scheduled to be held at Bangabandhu National Stadium. The president and the prime minister placed wreaths at the National Mausoleum at Savar in the morning. The national flag is being hoisted atop government and private buildings while the government and semi-government buildings and other public places will be illuminated. National dailies will bring out special supplements while Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television, private radio stations and television channels will air special programmes highlighting the significance of the day. 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 Liberation War and all other patriotic sons of the soil. Improved diets will be served to the inmates of jails, hospitals, old homes and other public institutions to mark the day. Different political parties have drawn elaborate programmes to observe the day in a befitting manner. Meanwhile, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have issued separate messages on the occasion. In his message, the President said, "Democracy and development complement each other. Jatiya Sangsad and the government have started the new journey after the eleventh parliamentary election. Collective initiative is necessary to implement the development ideas of the government and make the parliament meaningful." He called upon all to work together imbued with the spirit of the Liberation War and democratic values to make the hard-earned independence more meaningful. In her message, the Prime Minister said, "The independence earned through supreme sacrifices of millions of people is the greatest achievement of the Bangalee nation. To ensure that this achievement remains meaningful, all have to know the history of our great Liberation War and retain the spirit of independence. The spirit of the Liberation War has to be passed on to generation to generations." She called upon all to come up and uphold the development and democratic spree being imbued with the spirit of the freedom struggle. "Let's engage ourselves in the welfare of the country and the nation. Let's build a hunger-poverty-free and happy, prosperous Sonar Bangladesh as dreamt by Father of the Nation."<doc-sep>Google first made a doodle in honour of Bangladesh’s Independence Day in 2013 The world’s most-used internet search engine Google has created a doodle marking the 49th Independence Day of Bangladesh. The doodle, featuring three boats containing different goods on a river, has been seen above the search box on the homepage of Google since early Tuesday. Google first made a doodle in honour of Bangladesh’s Independence Day in 2013, commemorating the 43rd Independence Day. Google Doodle is a special, temporary alteration of the logo on Google’s homepage since 1998, which is intended to celebrate holidays, events, achievements and people. With due solemnity and festivity, Bangladesh is celebrating its 49th Independence. On March 26, 1971, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared Bangladesh’s independence following the crackdown on unarmed Bangalis on March 25 night by the then Pakistan occupation army. The day is a public holiday.<doc-sep>It was on this day in 1971 that Bangalees took up arms in their struggle for independence against the occupying Pakistani forces, starting the Liberation War. President Hamid and Prime Minister Hasina presented flowers at the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar at 6 am on Tuesday. A decorated team from the armed forces presented a state salute. Bugles rang out, playing a mournful tune. The president and prime minister observed a moment of silence in memory of those who sacrificed their lives for the independence of the nation. Members of cabinet, justices, the heads of the three armed forces and other top state officials were also in attendance. After the president and prime minister departed, freedom fighters, members of parliament, foreign diplomats, representatives from political and social organisations and people from all walks of life came to the memorial to pay their respects. A crowd had started to gather at the National Martyrs’ Memorial before the break of dawn on Tuesday. It only grew in size as the day wore on. Upon her return from Savar, Prime Minister Hasina went to Dhanmondi Road 32 to present flowers at the portrait of Bangbandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Bangladesh ushered in Independence Day with a 31-gun salute at dawn on Tuesday. After paying tribute to the martyrs and Bangabandhu, the prime minister made her way to a rally for children and youth at the Bangbandhu National Stadium. After Sheikh Hasina arrived, the national anthem was sung simultaneously across the country. A children and youth rally had been held from Mar 10 to Mar 18 at Bangabandhu Stadium. The winners of the national anthem singing contest at the event will be presented with awards. Hasina, the head of the government, will then observe the Independence Day Parade.<doc-sep>
File photo: A crowd in front of the National Memorial in Savar, bearing Bangladeshi flags on Tuesday, March 26, 2019 Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune President Hamid and Prime Minister Hasina in separate messages issued on Monday extended their heartfelt greetings and warm felicitations to the countrymen living at home and abroad The nation is observing the 49th Independence and National Day on Tuesday, refreshing the resolution to uphold the spirit of the 1971 Liberation War and build a “Sonar Bangla” as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. In the wee hours of March 26, 1971, Bangabandhu declared Bangladesh's independence following the crackdown on unarmed Bangalees on the midnight of March 25 by the Pakistani occupation forces. After the nine-month-long Liberation War with the supreme sacrifices of three million people and at the cost of chastity of two lakh women, Bangladesh achieved its cherished independence on December 16, 1971. The government and different socio-cultural and political organizations are observing the Independence Day, which is also a public holiday, through elaborate programs in a befitting manner. On this auspicious occasion, glowing tributes are being paid to the martyrs and veterans of the Liberation War. The National Memorial at Savar has become the main venue of the celebration where President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina placed wreaths this morning as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the martyrs. Families of the Bir Shreshthas and martyrs, war wounded freedom fighters, members of the diplomatic corps, leaders of different political parties, social, cultural and professional bodies and people from all walks of life later followed suit in paying tributes to the martyrs there. The day’s programs began by heralding a 31-gun salute early in the morning as a mark of profound respect to the heroic struggle of the Bengali nation, which suffered a protracted subjugation under foreign rules from time to time till achieving their coveted independence in 1971. President Hamid and Prime Minister Hasina in separate messages issued on Monday extended their heartfelt greetings and warm felicitations to the countrymen living at home and abroad. The national flag is flying atop all government and private buildings while all streets and important city intersections have been decorated with national and multi-coloured miniature flags and festoons. The national anthem will be sung simultaneously across the country and Bangladesh missions abroad on the day. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is set to lead the nation in singing the national anthem at the main programme of “Jatiya Shishu Kishore Samabesh” at Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka on Tuesday. National dailies have brought out special supplements while Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television, private radio stations and television channels are airing special programs highlighting the significance of the day. Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Bangla Academy, National Museum, Liberation War Museum, Bangladesh Shishu Academy, and other political, social and cultural organizations are observing the day with various events. Special prayers are being offered in all mosques, temples, churches and other places of worship across the country for the eternal peace of the souls of all the martyrs. Improved diets will also be served to the inmates of hospitals, jails, old homes and other public institutions to mark the day.