Exuding a firm determination, Bangabandhu on this day in 1971 delivered the historic speech that set the tone for the Liberation War.

With anger already boiling inside at repression and injustices to the then East Pakistan, people in thousands descended on Dhaka's Suhrawardy Udyan (then Race Course Maidan) to hear from Bangabandhu.

In a deep, thunderous voice, he declared 'Ebarer Sangram Amader Muktir Sangram, Ebarer Sangram Swadhinatar Sangram' (this struggle is for our freedom, this struggle is for independence).

The forceful and eloquent speech swayed the people to brace themselves for an impending fight against the Pakistan regime. Credited with one of the worst genocides in the human history, Pakistan army began the war 18 days later.

Bangladesh Awami League (AL) and different socio-political organisations have taken different programmes to commemorate the historic mass gathering at Ramna Race Course ground.

The AL programmes include hoisting of national and party flags at Bangabandhu Bhavan and at AL headquarters at 6:00am, placing of wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu at 7:00am and a discussion at Engineers Institution at 3:00pm in the afternoon.