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Nation celebrates 36th Independence Day today


The nation celebrates today the 36th Independence Day and National Day to pay tributes to the three million martyrs, who sacrificed their lives for independence.

On March 26, 1971, independence of Bangladesh was formally declared, leading to the nine-month Liberation War against the Pakistani occupation forces and resulting in the emergence of a sovereign state.


After the occupation army brutally cracked down on the unarmed Bangalees on the night of March 25, they joined all-out guerrilla warfare for independence.


Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared Bangladesh's independence at 00:30 hours, just an hour before he was taken prisoner from his road 32 residence in Dhanmondi.


After many years of political and economic exploitation, the Bangalees' nationalist sentiments paved the way for the massive victory of Bangabandhu-led Awami League in the 1970 Pakistan national elections.


The Pakistani junta in the then West Pakistan however refused to hand over power to the then East Pakistanis. They stalled installation of the newly elected parliament and started ethnic genocide aimed at extinguishing all signs of Bangalee nationalist movement.

In the face of this, the inevitable declaration of independence came on March 26.


Bangalee policemen and paramilitary and army personnel had defected from the West and trained the general public, who took up arms to fight for freedom. It was their determination to free the motherland and the all-out support of the people that had ultimately led to victory.