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39th Independence Day Celebrated

Fresh vow for trial of war criminals

Staff Correspondent
The nation yesterday celebrated its 39th Independence Day paying glowing tributes to the Liberation War martyrs and calling on the government to hold the trial of war criminals.
The resurgence of the spirit of the Liberation War was marked among the people as hundreds of thousands belonging to different generations stood before war memorials across the country and vowed to bring the war criminals to book.
This year the Independence Day was celebrated at a time when the much-awaited trial of
war criminals has been initiated by the new government.
Security measures have been beefed up in the city with the deployment of over ten thousand law enforcers in the capital to avert any untoward incidents. The ceremonious national parade, held at the National Parade Square every year, was cancelled this year following the BDR mutiny, which left many army officers dead.
On this day in 1971, the unarmed valiant Bangalees of the then East Pakistan rose to the occasion to resist the Pakistani occupation
FROM PAGE 1 forces who unleashed the worst kind of genocide in the world's history to suppress their rights.
Victory was finally achieved on December 16 after a ninemonth long struggle.
At sunrise, President Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid wreathes at the National Memorial and stood in solemn silence for a few minutes paying their respects to the independence martyrs.
A smartly turned-out contingent of armed forces saluted while the army bugle played the last post.
Speaker advocate Abdul Hamid, cabinet members, advisers to the prime minister, state ministers, MPs, diplomats, chiefs of the three services and senior civil and military officials were present.
Ihe prime minister also placed wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum on road No-32 in city's Dhanmondi in the morning.
Opposition leader Khaleda Zia, accompanied by senior leaders of her party, laid wreaths at the National Memorial to pay tribute to the martyrs. Later, she visited the mazar of late president Ziaur Rahman and offered fateha (prayers) there.
In the evening, the president hosted a reception for dignitaries, noted citizens and diplomats at Bangabhaba. Another reception was accorded to the family members of Birsreshthas at Bangabhaban afterwards.
Throughout the day, people from all walks of life, including families and relatives of the martyrs, victims of war crimes, freedom fighters, sociopolitical and cultural organisations, human rights bodies and students poured in to different memorials in the country, including the National Memorial at Savar, with floral wreaths to pay homage to the martyrs.
The National Memorial resonated with slogans, patri otic songs and processions all day yesterday. Apart from the National Memorial, people and different organisations also placed floral wreaths at Shikha Chirantan at
Suhrawardy Udyan in the city.
The people who gathered at these venues reiterated their demand to bring the war criminals to trial. They vowed to work to make martyrs' dreams for a truly democratic, prosperous and corruption-free nation become a reality.
On the occasion, many cultural programmes were held while the historic 7th March speech by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and patriotic songs were played at most public placesail around thecapital.
The national flag was hoisted at government buildings, offices of corporate bodies, banks, leading business houses and houses of the general public to mark the day.
The day was a public holiday. The state-owned radio and television and private radio and television channels have put up special programmes to mark the occasion. Newspapers and periodicals have brought out special supplements highlighting the significance of the occasion.
Special prayers were offered at all religious centres across the country, praying for eternal peace of the martyrs and blessings for the country's prosperity-
Major political, social and cultural organisations also observed the day through elaborate programmes.