A 'dark night' that led to light of freedom...

On its 41st Independence Day, the nation is remembering its martyrs done to death by Pakistani forces on Mar 25 1971 midnight and in the days ahead.

It was this very genocide by the occupation forces that had Bangladeshis giving the final war cry, and the nine-month War of Independence followed.

Thousands of people are expected to visit the Savar National Memorial since early morning to commemorate the three million people who made the supreme sacrifice to realise the dream of a new nation.

Several programmes are lined up to mark the day, which also happens to be the National Day of the country.

The day would break with 31 canon shots tearing through the skies at the National Parade Ground.

President Zillur Rahman, prime minister Sheikh Hasina and opposition chief Khaleda Zia are likely to place wreaths at the Savar memorial early in the morning.

A march-past of children has been organised at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in the morning. The prime minister is scheduled to attend the programme.

The president will organise a reception of freedom fighters at Bangabhaban in the afternoon.

National flag will be hoisted at all government and semi-government offices, and all important buildings and streets will be decorated with lights.

Newspapers will publish supplementary issues to mark the day, while Bangladesh Television, Betar and other private radio and TV channels will broadcast special programmes marking the day.

Shilpakala Academy, Shishu Academy and other socio-cultural organisations will also organise special programmes.

All religious centres will hold special prayers, and prisoners, patients at hospitals, orphans and students will be served special diet.

The Bangladeshi embassies abroad will also organise Independence Day programmes.

The announcement followed weeks of protests, violent campaigns, the historic Mar 7 speech at the Race Course Maidan by Sheikh Mujib – the man who came to be known as Bangabandhu – and a bloody, mindless crackdown on innocent civilians on the fateful night of Mar 25, 1971.

Members of the Bangladesh Juba Union and the Chittagong unit of Prajanma 71 lighted candles at the Central Shaheed Minar in port city on Sunday.

Speakers at the programme demanded quick trial of the war criminals and preserving the correct history of the 1971 war.

The president, prime minister and the opposition leader have released separate messages greeting the people on the historical day.

Zillur in his message said, "On this Independence Day, I urge all, living at home and abroad, to work unitedly imbued with the spirit of War of Liberation to expedite economic self-reliance and democratic advancement of the country."