Nation celebrates 48th Independence Day today

Desk Report: The nation is being celebrate the 48th Independence and National Day on March 26 (Monday) with due respect.

The day is a public holiday.

On March 26, 1971, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared Bangladesh’s independence following the crackdown on unarmed Banglalees 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 people, Bangladesh achieved its cherished independence on December 16, 1971.

This year the nation is celebrating the Day amid much enthusiasm, fanfare and pride as the historic 7th March speech of Bangabandhu, which was the effective deceleration of the country's independence, got the prestigious place in the world's documentary heritage.

In October last year, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) included the speech in the Memory of the World International Register - a list of the world's important documentary heritage. This recognition has taken the country's status to a new stature in the global context.

The country this year has also achieved a milestone progress in socio- economic development.

The Committee for Development Policy (CDP) of the United Nations on March 15 officially declared the eligibility of Bangladesh for graduating from the Least Development Countries (LDCs).

The nation is also celebrating the success in festivity, which will continue till March 28 across the country.

Amid this success and festivity, glowing tributes will be paid to the martyrs and veterans of the War of Liberation on the Independence and National Day tomorrow.

The National Memorial at Savar will be the main venue of the celebration of the day where President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will place wreaths early in the morning as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the martyrs.

On the eve of the Day, President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will issue separate messages, highlighting the significance of the day in building Bangladesh a prosperous nation.

The day's programmes will be heralded with a 31-gun salute early in the morning as a mark of 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._BSS

risingbd/Dhaka/March 26, 2018/Nasim