DHAKA, March 26: Bangladesh marked its 56th Independence Day on Thursday, commemorating freedom from Pakistan in 1971.
Celebrations included 31 military gun salutes, tributes to Liberation War martyrs, an armed forces parade, and a presidential civic reception.
President Mohammad Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman paid homage at the National Memorial near Dhaka.
The event featured a skydive, fly-past, aerobatic displays, and a march-past by military, navy, air force, paramilitary, and police units.
Far-right Jamaat-e-Islami participated in the National Memorial for the first time, while the Awami League, which led the Liberation War under Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, remained absent.
Independence followed the Pakistan Army’s March 25, 1971 crackdown, “Operation Searchlight,” triggering the nine-month war that led to Bangladesh’s government formation on April 17, 1971. (PTI)
