The nation celebrates its 56th Independence Day today amid fervour and with due honour.

Gun salutes, a military parade, discussions, cultural programmes, and other events would mark the celebrations of the historic day as the nation’s nine-month-long War of Independence began on March 26, 1971, against the Pakistani military.

The partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947  converted this land into East Pakistan, the eastern wing of Pakistan that came into being based on the two-nation theory, to be ruled from Karachi, the capital of West Pakistan, some 2,000 kilometres away.The growing inequality in socio-economic opportunities and benefits between the two parts of Pakistan prompted the eastern wing’s people to launch movement after movement for their rights soon after 1947 independence, culminating in the 1971 War of Independence that was won on December 16 that year.

Today is a national holiday.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin and prime minister Tarique Rahman in separate messages, greeted the people on the occasion of the day.

The president, in his message, said, ‘We must strive to realise the unfinished aspirations of our independence by ensuring equality, good governance, transparency, and accountability across all spheres of the state and society. It is our sacred duty to build a safe, prosperous, and compassionate Bangladesh for future generations,’ he said.

Prime minister Tarique Rahman, in his message, said that the fundamental goal of independence was to establish a Bangladesh that is free from discrimination, and to be democratic, peaceful and prosperous.

‘Keeping that goal before us, we must work together and continue to move the country forward,’ he said.

The president, the prime minister and the opposition leader of the parliament will place wreaths at the National Memorial at Savar today.

Thereafter, families of the Bir Shreshthas, war-injured freedom fighters, members of the diplomatic corps, leaders of political parties and of social, cultural, and professional organisations, and people from all walks of life will lay wreaths at the memorial.

The national flag will be hoisted atop government, semi-government, and private buildings.

Improved food will be served in hospitals, jails, orphanages, vagrant homes, the Muktijoddha Kendra, and charity homes.

Newspapers will bring out special supplements, while television and radio stations will air special programmes to mark the day.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police on Wednesday issued a notice on special traffic management measures on the roads surrounding Bangabhaban on the occasion of the courtesy meeting with the president marking Independence and National Day 2026.

According to a public notice signed by acting DMP Commissioner Md Sarwar, the courtesy meeting at Bangabhaban will be held from 4:00pm to 5:30pm today.

The event will be attended by the president, the prime minister, members of the cabinet, foreign diplomats, high-ranking officials, and leaders of various organisations.

On the occasion of Independence and National Day 2026, a parade and fly-past will be held today at 9:00am at the National Parade Square in Dhaka.

The president and the prime minister will be present at the programme, which will be open to the public.

Political parties, socio-cultural organisations, professional entities, and various other institutions have planned elaborate events on the occasion.

The ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party units at district and municipal levels will organise discussion meetings and other events, while its associate and affiliated bodies will also organise programmes to mark the day.

The main opposition Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami will raise the national flag at its central office in the capital and all other offices across the country, organise special prayers and discussions to mark the day.