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Bangladesh Celebrates Independence Day

Bangladesh celebrated its 36th Independence and National Day on Sunday to pay tributes to the three million martyrs who sacrificed their lives for national independence. National flags were hoisted atop the government and private buildings marking the day. Important government buildings were illuminated in the evening.

The independence of Bangladesh was formally declared on March 26, 1971 leading to the nine-month Liberation War and resulting in the emergence of the sovereign state. The country`s former eastern wing of Pakistan declared independence as the then former military rulers declined to hand over power to the Awami League led by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, even though his party won the 1970 general elections.

Sunday`s celebrations began with a 31-gun salute at dawn. President of Bangladesh Prof. Dr Iajuddin Ahmed, Prime Minister of Bangladesh Khaleda Zia, her cabinet colleagues, foreign diplomats and other political parties paid tributes to the martyrs with floral wreaths at the National Memorial in Savar, 15 miles west of the capital in the morning.