<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>Bangladesh is all set to celebrate its 54th Independence Day, also commemorated as the country's National Day, on Tuesday with a vow to build the developed, prosperous, and harmonious Smart 'Sonar Bangla' dreamt of by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>On March 26, 1971, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared Bangladesh's independence following the crackdown on unarmed Bangalees on the midnight of March 25 by the Pakistani occupation forces.</div><div><br></div><div>After the nine-month War of Liberation with the supreme sacrifices of three million people and at the cost of chastity of two lakh women, Bangladesh achieved its cherished independence on December 16, 1971.</div><div><br></div><div>The day is a public holiday.</div><div><br></div><div>Different sociocultural and political organisations have chalked out elaborate programmes on the occasion.</div><div><br></div><div>The day's programme will begin with a 31-gun salute before President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina pay their tributes at the National Mausoleum in Savar on Tuesday morning.</div><div><br></div><div>They will be followed by the freedom fighters and their family members, foreign diplomats, leaders of Awami League and different political and social organisations and people from all walks of life.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, foreign diplomats, leaders of different political and social organisations and people from all walks of life will place wreaths to pay homage to the martyrs.</div><div><br></div><div>The national flag will be hoisted atop government and private buildings while the government and semi-government buildings and other public places will be illuminated on the auspicious occasion.</div><div><br></div><div>National dailies will bring out special supplements while Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television, private radio stations and television channels will air special programmes highlighting the significance of the day.</div><div><br></div><div>Special prayers will be 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.</div><div><br></div><div>Special meals will be served to the inmates of hospitals, jails, old homes and other public institutions to mark the day.</div><div><br></div><div>Different political parties as well as socio-cultural and professional organisations have drawn up elaborate programmes to observe the day in a befitting manner.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Bangla Academy, National Museum, Liberation War Museum, Bangladesh Shishu Academy and other social and cultural organisations will organize different programmes including cultural programmes, art exhibition, sports, an exhibition of documentary films and posters based on the history and tradition of the Liberation War.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh Postal Department will release a commemorative postage stamp marking the Independence and National Day.</div><div><br></div><div>All children's parks and museums will be kept open with free entry across the country.</div><div><br></div><div>President Mohammed Shahabuddin, the head of state, and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the head of government, have issued separate messages on the occasion.</div><div><br></div><div>In his message, the President said, "I recall with deep respect the millions of martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the War of Liberation. I recall with deep reverence our Four National Leaders, heroic freedom-fighters, organizers, supporters, foreign friends and people from all walks of life who made contributions to attain our right to self-determination and freedom movement.”</div><div><br></div><div>“I hope, based on the unprecedented achievements of the government in the country's overall development activities and socio-economic indicators in the past years, we will be able to face these challenges in the days to come, InshaAllah,” said the president.</div><div><br></div><div>“To expedite the progress of the country, let the nation embrace the spirit of the liberation war and the ideals of the Father of the Nation and move forward in building ‘Sonar Bangla (Golden Bengal)’ dreamt by Bangabandhu--this is my expectation on the great Independence Day,” he said.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>In her message, the Prime Minister said, “On this auspicious occasion, I extend my sincere greetings and congratulations to all the Bangladeshi citizens living in the country and abroad, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>I remember with the most profound respect the Greatest Bangali of all time, Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, under whose firm and far-sighted leadership we achieved independent and sovereign Bangladesh.”</div><div><br></div><div>“The Awami League government believes in the philosophy of upgrading the fate of the people. We are running our government through immediate, short, medium, and long-term plans to uplift the living standard of ordinary people and develop the country. Moreover, we regularly monitor the implementation progress of our election manifesto. Due to these reasons, people's trust and strong support for Awami League continues,” she added.</div><div><br></div><div>“On this very occasion of Independence Day and National Day, being imbued with the spirit of our great Liberation War, let us take the oath to build developed-prosperous non-communal smart 'Sonar Bangla' as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>