The nation yesterday celebrated the 51st Independence Day with a call for building "Sonar Bangla" as envisioned by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

This year's festivities coincided with the 10-day grand celebrations of the birth centenary of Bangabandhu and the Golden Jubilee of Independence.

The celebrations marked the physical attendance of five heads of state and government and virtual attendance of other global leaders.

The programme began on March 17 at the capital's National Parade Square in the presence of Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. It ended yesterday with the attendance of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in person as the guest of honour.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, US President Joe Biden, Russian President Vladimir Putin, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prince of Wales Charles, and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan sent letters and video messages on the closing day of the celebrations.

Earlier, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Nepalese President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Bhutanese Prime Minister Lotay Tshering joined the celebrations in person.

Marking the Independence Day, the government took up programmes which were held maintaining health guidelines. Due to the pandemic, the day was celebrated on a limited scale.

The day's programmes began with a 50-gun salute early in the morning. The national flag was hoisted atop all government, semi-government, autonomous and private buildings while many streets and important city intersections were decorated with national and multi-coloured miniature flags and festoons.

In the morning, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid rich tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War by placing wreaths at the National Memorial in Savar. They stood in silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the martyrs.

Later, the president and the PM signed the visitors' book there.

Bangabandhu's younger daughter Sheikh Rehana, Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, senior Awami League leaders and high civil and military officials, among others, were present.

The JS Speaker and the chief justice also paid tribute to the martyrs by placing wreaths at the National Memorial.

Awami League, led by party General Secretary Obaidul Quader, also paid tribute there by placing a wreath in presence of senior party leaders.

Just after the completion of the state formalities, the main entrance to the National Memorial was opened to all.

Jatiya Party, BNP, Workers Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, NAP, Gono Forum, Ganatantri Party, Jubo League, Chhatra League, Swechchhasebak League, Krishak League and different other political parties placed wreaths.

On her return from the National Memorial, PM Hasina paid rich tributes to the Father of the Nation by placing wreaths at his portrait in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in the capital's Dhanmondi.

The premier along with her sister entered the museum and placed a wreath at the stair where the bloodstained body of Bangabandhu was lying on the black night of August 15, 1975.
SPECIAL PROGRAMME ENDS

On the last day of the 10-day special programme yesterday, President Hamid joined the function as the chief guest at the National Parade Square. The theme of the day's event was "Swadhinatar Panchash Bochhor o Agragatir Subarnarekha".

PM Hasina chaired the function while her Indian counterpart Modi attended it as the guest of honor.

During the programme, "Sraddha Swarak" was handed to the guest of honour. The Golden Jubilee logo was unveiled on the occasion.

National dailies brought out special supplements while Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television, private radio and television channels aired special programmes on Liberation War and highlighted the significance of the day.

The day was also celebrated across the country in a befitting manner while Bangladesh missions abroad also celebrated the day through similar programmes.