The historic March 7 was observed in the country on Wednesday commemorating Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's epoch-making speech of 1971 that drew the crucial strategy for an independent and sovereign state.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid rich tributes to the great leader and greatest Bengali of all time by placing wreaths at his portrait in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi in the city.
Thousands of people from all walks of life thronged Bangabandhu Memorial Museum on Dhanmondi Road 32 and paid rich tributes to Bangabandhu to mark the 47th anniversary of his March 7 speech of 1971, local media reports said.
The day began with Bangladesh Awami League hoisting the national and party flags atop Bangabandhu Bhaban and party offices. Later, they placed wreaths at Bangabandhu's portrait on Bangabandhu Bhaban premises.
The public rally of Awami League marking the historic March 7 was held in the afternoon at city's Suhrawardy Udyan.
Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the huge rally.
This year the nation remembered the 'red-letter day' in the country's history with much enthusiasm, fanfare and pride as the historical speech got a prestigious place in the world's documentary heritage.
In October last year, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) included the speech in the Memory of the World International Register - a list of the world's important documentary heritage.
On March 7 in 1971, Bangabandhu delivered a momentous speech at the Race Course Maidan, now Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka, effectively declared the War of Independence.
On the eve of the day, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave separate messages recalling the Father of the Nation and his immense courage, strong leadership and right directions that led the nation to achieve the independence of Bangladesh.
Marking the day, socio-cultural and political organizations, student and professional bodies organized elaborate programmes including laying wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu and holding discussions and rallies.
Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television, private television channels and radio stations aired special programmes while national dailies brought out special supplements marking the occasion.
