Throughout the day thousands of people from all walks of life thronged the Liberation War Museum at Segunbagicha and attended the special programmes arranged there on the occasion of the Independence Day. Most of the visitors were children taken by their parents to the museum to show them the history of the nation.

This correspondent found Monjurul Ehsan narrating to his 10-year-old daughter the history of the war. "These pictures [on display at the museum] help me narrate the Liberation War history chronologically and clearly," said Manjurul.

The Liberation War Museum organised weeklong programmes starting from March 22 to celebrate the Independence and National Day.

On the Independence Day, the programme started at 9:30am where students from different schools and cultural organisations including Siddeshwari Girl's College, UCEP (Underprivileged Children's Educational Programs) School and Sunbeam School performed in colourful cultural programmes.

"It is really nice to perform in the programme on our Independence Day," said Farzana Akhter Shantona, a class 8 student of UCEP School after performing in a cultural show.

In the afternoon, noted artists of the country including Hashem Khan, Rafiqun Nabi, Quayyum Chowdhury and Shishir Bhattacharya joined an art workshop on the museum premises to depict the hopes and dreams of the Liberation War through paintings. The struggle for freedom, the bloody war and its impacts were reflected in the paintings.

Dhakabashi, a socio-cultural organisation engaged in upholding the tradition and cultural heritage of Dhaka city, arranged a daylong kite flying competition on the Dhaka University playground on the Independence Day. Tapan Chowdhury, energy and sports adviser of the caretaker government, attended the programme as chief guest.

In late afternoon Bangladesh Rowing Federation organised a boat race on the Buriganga river. But the race failed to generate enthusiasm among city dwellers. The race did not represent the traditional racing boats of the country.

The celebrations wore a different look on the river Buriganga, when artists in a modern vessel moved from area to area singing various patriotic songs on loud speakers fitted on the top. The unusual event was organised by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.