Independence Day celebrated with the regard of the Heroes of 1971

The nation today celebrated the 55th Independence and National Day paying rich tributes to the Liberation War heroes whose sacrifices helped Bengalis achieve independent Bangladesh through defeating Pakistani occupation forces in 1971.

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.

To mark the Independence Day, people from all walks of life paid rich tributes to the nation's heroic sons by placing floral wreaths at the National Memorial in Savar. Since early morning, leaders of different political parties and social organizations as well as people from different classes and professions started coming to the memorial in groups carrying national flag, flowers, banners and festoons to pay their respects.

As the day progressed, the Shaheed Minaar (alter of the memorial) was filled with flowers. Many were seen wearing red and green clothes at that time.

On the occasion, Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus paid rich tributes to the Liberation War martyrs by placing wreaths at the National Memorial around 6.11am.

After placing the wreaths, he stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War.

A smartly turned-out contingent drawn from Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force presented a state salute at that time while the bugles played the last post.

Later, the family members of Bir Shresthas, war-wounded freedom fighters and other valiant freedom fighters paid their respects. The members of Advisory Council and foreign diplomats also paid their respects.

The Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed paid his respects by laying a wreath at the National Memorial in Savar around 6.15am. At that time, he was accompanied by Appellate Division Judges Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam, Justice SM Emdadul Hoque, Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Farah Mahbub, High Court Division Judges and Registrar General of the Supreme Court Dr Aziz Ahmed Bhuiyan.

After paying tribute to the martyrs, Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and the Ministry of Water Resources Syeda Rizwana Hasan said, “We will build a consensus going beyond the personal and party interests for the sake of the national interest”.

But each person has different outlook and perspectives, she said, adding, it would take some time to reduce the differences caused by those perspectives.

However, a process has already begun to build consensus on different reforms, Rizwana said, adding, it must go through a process.

“I think it (this process for consensus) is a big issue for us to move forward with everyone together in it. Another issue is to hold a free and fair election and fulfill the expectations of the people,” she added.

After paying respect, Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain said that the people of this country will no longer feel subordinate in an independent land.

“The country was born in 1971, we achieved independence. It was a bloody independence. But in the past 16 years, the concept of independence has been destroyed. The independence will not carry any meaning until every citizen of the country feels that he is independent, he has freedom of speech and freedom of expression,” he said.

Noting that 2024 uprising has protected the independence, he said this independence will prevail in the days to come.