The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The nation paid glowing tributes to the memories of the 30 lakhs martyrs, including the freedom fighters and members of the Armed Forces along with remembering with respect the Indian soldiers, who laid down their lives during its Liberation War 37 years ago, during the celebration of the Independence Day on Wednesday (March 26).

The historic day heralded with 31-gun salute in the capital. The Independence Day was celebrated across the country this with an official pledge to try the war criminals, who organised one of the brutal genocide.

President Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed took salute at the day's main official proigramme, colourful joint march-past of Bangladesh Armed Forces, paramilitary BDR and other law enforcing agencies, including anti-terrorist elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and the Freedom Fighters, at the national parade square on this occasion.

Chiefs of the three service--General Moeen U Ahmed of the Army, Vice-Admiral Sarwar Jahan Nizam and Air Marshall Shah Ziaur Rahman.

The head of military-backed Caretaker Government, Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed, Speaker Barrister Mohammad Jamiruddin Sircar, Chief Justice M Ruhul Amin. members of the Council of Advisers, Sector Commanders, including Deputy Commander in Chief of the Bangladesh Liberation Forces Air-Vice Marshall AK Khondaker, former Chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force, attended the programme along with diplomats, senior political leaders, editors and elite.

The rare honour was accorded to the Indian war veterans during the Independence Day parade.

The 10-member delegation of India are veterans of the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, as they attended the historic celebration for the first time in 37 years. The elderly Indian war veterans arrived in Dhaka on Tuesday with their spouses.

This was the first time that Indian officers led by the senior most living Indian military Commander Lt Gen (retd) JFR Jacob, who was first General of the Bangladesh-India allied forces, to enter Dhaka city along with the Bangladesh Armed Forces and Muktee Bahini (freedom fighters) after defeating the then Pakistan occupation forces, were formally invited to attend the celebration by Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed.

The retired Indian Army men were popularly known as 'Mitra Bahini' (allied forces) during the nine month-long war that led to the liberation and emergence of Bangladesh as an independent and sovereign country on December 16 in 1971.