The 53rd Independence and National Day was celebrated in a befitting manner across the country on Sunday.
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.
Important buildings and establishments as well as city streets are illuminated with colourful lights.
In Khulna, different organisations, including Khulna District Administration, celebrated the 53rd Independence and National Day pledging to establish a non-communal prosperous and developed Bangladesh with the spirit of Liberation War.
Khulna City and District Muktijoddha (Freedom Fighters) Command Council, State Minister for Labour and Employment Begum Monnujan Sufian, Khulna City Corporation Mayor (KCC) Talukder Abdul Khaleque, Khulna Divisional Commissioner, Khulna Police Commissioner, Khulna Range DIG of Police, Khulna District Administration, Zila Parishad, City and district units of Awami League, educational institutions and socio-cultural organisations placed wreaths at the Gallyamary Martyrdom Memorial in the city.
In Rajshahi, The city corporation and district administration along with different political, socio-cultural organisations and educational institutions celebrated the 53rd Independence and National Day-2023 in a befitting manner.
Floral wreaths were placed at different Shaheed Memorial Plaques and mausoleums in the city with the sunrise.
A programme of hoisting the national flag formally, gathering and march-past was held at Muktijuddho Smrity Stadium at 8 am. Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner GSM Zafarullah hoisted the national flag and witnessed the march-past.
In Chapainawabganj, the day's programmes began with heralding 31-gun salute at the Chapainawabganj Stadium at dawn.
The national flag was hoisted at all government, semi-government, autonomous, non-government offices, educational institutions and other buildings.
Chapainawabganj district administration, different government and non- government offices and organisations, Awami League and its front organisations, Bangabandhu Parishad and educational institutions offered wreaths of flowers at the monument of the martyred freedom fighters in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office and at the mural of the Father of the
Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Bangabandhu Square in the town.
In Panchagarh, the District Administration celebrated the great day through daylong programmes. The celebrations began with heralding 31-gun salute in the early morning besides hoisting of national flags atop all government and non- government offices. On the occasion, Lawmaker from Panchagarh-1 constituency Md Mojaharul Huque Prodhan, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Md, Johurul Islam, Police Super SM Sirajul
Huda, Zilla Parishad Chairman Abdul Hannan Sheikh, Sadar Upazila Chairman Amirul Islam, Municipality Mayor Zakia Katun, District Awami League General Secretary Anwar Sadat Samrat placed floral wreaths on the Monument of Freedom
Fighters in front of the DC office in the district.
In Rangpur, the district administration, Rangpur City Corporation (RpCC), Awami League
and its associate bodies, educational institutions, sociocultural and professional organisations took colorful programs to celebrate the auspicious national occasion.
The celebrations began with heralding 31-gun salutes at 'Swadhinota Smritistambha Arjan' in Modern Mour area of the city at zero hours.
Floral wreaths were placed at 'Swadhinota Smritistambha Arjan', Bangabandhu's mural and 'Shaheed Muktijoddha Smritistambha' paying rich tribute to the martyred best sons and daughters of the soil.
Divisional Commissioner Md. Sabirul Islam, Mayor of Rangpur Md. Mostafizar Rahman Mostafa, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) for Rangpur Range Police Mohd Abdul Alim Mahmud, Rangpur Metropolitan Police (RpMP) Commissioner Nure Alam Mina, Deputy Commissioner Dr. Chitralekha Nazneen, Superintendent of Police (SP) Md. Ferdous Ali Chowdhury, District Council Chairman heroic freedom fighter Mosaddek Hossain Bablu first placed wreaths at these places.
Floral wreaths were placed at 'Swadhinota Smritistambha Arjan', Bangabandhu's mural and 'Shaheed Muktijoddha Smritistambha' paying rich tribute to the martyred best sons and daughters of the soil.
In Lakshmipur, the district administration, Lakshmipur City Corporation, Awami League and its associate bodies, educational institutions, sociocultural and professional organisations took colorful programs to celebrate the auspicious national occasion.
The celebrations began with heralding 31-gun salutes at district administration office in the city.
Lakshmipur Deputy Commissioner (DC) Md Anwar Hossain Akand along with Superintendent of Police Md Mahfuzzaman Ashraf, District Council Chief Executive Officer Mohammad Rezai Rafin Sarkar, District Awami League President Golam Farooq Pinku, heroic freedom fighters Mahbubul Alam and Shamshul Islam and Bangabandhu Parishad district unit convener Shahjahan Kamal placed floral wreaths at Martyrs' Monument in the city.
In Panchagarh, lawmaker from Panchagarh-1 constituency Mojaharul Huque Prodhan, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Md, Johurul Islam, Police Super, Zilla Parishad Chairman, Sadar Upazila Chairman among others placed floral wreaths on the Monument of Freedom Fighters in front of the DC office in the district.
In Chuadanga, Saolaiman Hoque Joarder Selun, placed a wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the district in observance of Independence day.
Moreover, National dailies brought out special supplements while Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television, private radio stations and television channels were airing month-long special programmes on the Liberation War and highlighting the significance of the day.
Liberation War based documentaries and movies were screened at cinema halls across the country.
Receptions were accorded to the freedom fighters and the members of martyred freedom fighters at city, zilla and upazila levels while Bangladesh Postal Office published commemorating postal stamps.
Special prayers were 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.
Ships of Bangladesh Navy and Coast Guard was 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.
Every year, March 26 brings the most tragic reminiscence of 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 in the city.
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.
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.
