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.

In 1971, a section of people led by Jamaat-e-Islami leaders opposed the Liberation War and helped the Pakistani forces kill freedom fighters and nation's intellectuals.

The collaborators include Golam Azam, Motiur Rahman Nizami and Ali Ahsan Mohammad Muzahid. Ironically, both Nizami and Muahid have been enjoying state-power as ministers forming alliance with BNP for the last four and a half years.

PROGRAMMES
The day's celebrations begin with 31 gun salutes at dawn.

President Iajuddin Ahmed and Prime Minister Khaleda Zia will lead the nation in paying tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War by placing wreaths at the National Memorial in Savar at the sunrise.

Leaders of the ruling and opposition parties, socio-political organisations, freedom fighters and people of all walks of life will then place wreaths at the memorial.

The national flag will be hoisted atop public and private buildings. Important public buildings will be illuminated tonight to give them a dazzling look.

The day is a public holiday.

The president will take salute at a ceremonial march-past by contingents of freedom fighters, armed forces, BDR, police, BNCC and ansar-VDP at the National Parade Ground in the capital at 9:00am. The prime minister will also attend the function.

Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force bands will perform at Crescent Lake, Farmgate and Mirpur Stadium from 3:00pm to 5:00pm. They will play patriotic and popular tunes for the entertainment of the people.

Besides, a few ships of the Bangladesh Navy will be kept open to visitors from 2:00pm to 5:00pm in Sadarghat (Dhaka), Narayanganj, Chittagong, Khulna, Mongla and Barisal.

Bangladesh Navy ships will remain dressed overall during the day and will be illuminated in the night.

The day's programmes also include special munajat after Fazr prayers at all mosques of army, navy and air force across the country seeking divine blessings for peace and progress of the country and development of the armed forces.

MESSAGES
President Iajuddin Ahmed, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina in separate messages have paid deep respect to the martyrs of the Liberation War.

SECURITY
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) have beefed up security to check subversive incidents during the Independence Day celebration programmes.

Police and Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) personnel will set up check-posts at different parts of the city and check randomly vehicles and the commuters on suspicion.

Adequate number of police and Rab men will be on hand at all the venues today, with more security at the key venues -- National Memorial at Savar, National Parade Square, Bangabhaban, the shrine of former president Ziaur Rahman and at all the venues of cultural programme, DMP Commissioner SM Mizanur Rahman told The Daily Star yesterday.

The government, even after the capture of key leaders of outlawed Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), does not brush away apprehension of further attacks by the Islamist militants.

State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar told reporters on March 22 he had ordered for strengthening security further from that day as the government cannot ignore the possibility of militant attacks.

The two top JMB leaders, Salahuddin and Khaled Saifullah, who are members of the banned militant organisation's top decision-making body Majlish-e-Shura, and some other district unit chiefs are still at large. The law enforcers suspect they might reorganise and launch attacks on a significant occasion like the Independence Day.

But the DMP commissioner denied any specific security threats. "We're taking precautionary steps to ward off any untoward incidents. We don't have any threats from any quarter," said Mizanur.

TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
As the VVIPs, VIPs and guests will go to the National Memorial in Savar in the morning, vehicles that use Gabtoli-Aminbazar-Savar Road have been asked to use alternative Airport Road-Abdullahpur crossing-Ashulia Road from 5:00am to 7:00am.

The vehicles from Paturia that enters Dhaka through Aminbazar have been asked to bypass at Nabinagar Bazar and enter Dhaka through Ashulia. The vehicles from Tangail have been asked to use Kaliakoir-Gazipur Chourasta-Tongi route to enter Dhaka.