Bangladeshi people attend a rally to mark the 42nd anniversary of independence in Dhaka yesterday. Bangladesh is commemorating the 42nd anniversary of its independence and set up a special tribunal on March 25, to try people accused of committing war crimes during the country’s bloody 1971 liberation struggle against Pakistan.
By Mizan Rahman /Dhaka
Hundreds of thousands of people in Dhaka and elsewhere in Bangladesh paid tributes to the martyrs of 1971 Liberation War as the country celebrated 42th Independence Day yesterday.
On this day, the erstwhile East Pakistan was proclaimed independent.
Acting President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina led the nation in paying homage to the martyrs placing floral wreaths at the National Martyrs Memorial in Savar.
Hasina as the president of Awami League placed a wreath at the National Memorial on behalf of her party along with the AL senior leaders.
Chief Justice M Muzammel Hossain, Deputy Leader of Parliament Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, ministers, advisers to the prime minister, state ministers, three services chiefs, diplomats, high civil and military officials, freedom fighters, other dignitaries and senior leaders of Awami League were present.
Thousands of people, many carrying green-and-red national flag, thronged the mausoleum as they sang the
national anthem.
The prime minister later moved to the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in Dhanmondi where she placed wreaths at the portrait of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Senior leaders of the ruling party accompanied.
She went to the Bangabandhu National Stadium to attend a children’s rally and parade.