A grateful nation celebrated the 45th Independence and National Day today paying deep homage to three million martyrs of the Liberation War demanding a ban on the destructive politics of anti-independence forces including Jamaat-Shibir.

The day was heralded with a 31-gun salute in Tejgaon Old Airport area at dawn. The national flag was raised atop all government, semi-government, non-government and private buildings in the morning.

The other programmes of the day included placing of wreaths at the National Memorial at Savar, Shikha Chironton (Eternal flame) at Suhrawardy Udyan and at the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Dhanmondi, offering of prayers at mosques, temples, churches, pagodas and all the places of worship seeking welfare of the state and its people, distribution of improved diets among the inmates of Freedom Fighters' Centres, hospitals, jails, orphanages and old-age homes, discussions, cultural functions and illumination of important government offices.

Early in the morning, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, on behalf of the state, placed wreaths at the National Memorial paying deep homage to the martyrs.

The President and the Prime Minister stood there in solemn silence for some time paying glowing tributes to the martyrs when the last post was played on the bugle and a smartly turned out squad of the armed forces gave a guard of honour.

Later, Sheikh Hasina as the president of ruling Awami League, along with party stalwarts and party's advisory council members and lawmakers also laid wreaths at the memorial.

Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad Dr Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury and Deputy Speaker Advocate Fazle Rabbi Miah also paid glowing tributes to the martyrs placing wreaths at the National Memorial.

Leader of the Opposition Begum Raushan Ershad along with Jatiya Party leaders also placed wreaths at the memorial in the morning as a mark of respect to the martyrs.

The Chief Justice, members of the cabinet, Prime Minister's advisers, chief whip of the Jatiya Sangsad, lawmakers, chiefs of the three forces, diplomats, high civil and military officials, war wounded freedom fighters, family members of the Bir Shreshthras and martyrs, and eminent citizens and senior leaders of Awami League (AL) were present.

Later, Sheikh Hasina as the president of ruling Awami League along with party stalwarts also placed wreaths at the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the premises of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum on Dhanmondi Road-32.

AL advisory council members Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta and Advocate Yusuf Hossain Humayun, presidium members Begum Matia Chowdhury, Advocate Sahara Khatun and Satish Chandra Roy, Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan, joint general secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif, organising secretary Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, information and research affairs secretary Advocate Afzal Hossain, law affairs secretary Advocate Abdul Matin Khosru and publicity and publication affairs secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud were present, among others.

Hundreds of leaders and workers of AL, its associate bodies and other socio-cultural-professional bodies as well as people from all walks of life thronged on the premises of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum for their turn to place wreaths at the portrait of the Father of the Nation marking the day.

Also in the morning, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was the chief guest at a child-juveniles' rally and took salute at their march past at Bangabandhu National Stadium. Students of different educational institutions took part in the march past and displayed physical exercises at the function.

In the afternoon, President Md Abdul Hamid hosted a reception to the elite of the society, diplomats, civil and military officials, politicians and professionals at Bangabhaban on the occasion.

Earlier in the morning, the President of the Republic also went round the military hardware displayed at the National Parade Square in the city marking the Independence and National Day.

The day was a public holiday.

National dailies published special supplements while Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar and other private TV channels and radio stations aired special programme highlighting the significance of the day.

Different institutions and organisations including Liberation War Museum, Chhayanaut, Bangla Academy, Shilpakala Academy, Bangladesh Shishu Academy, Sector Commanders' Forum, Sammilita Sangskritik Jote, Nirmul Committee, National Press Club, Dhaka Officers' Club, National Museum, Nazrul Institute, Kachi Kanchar Mela, Mahila Parishad and other bodies observed the day holding discussions, candle-light vigil, musical soirees, street dramas, painting shows and poetry recitation sessions.

Bangladesh Postal Department released a commemorative stamp marking the day. The day was also observed in all the divisional and district headquarters and Bangladesh Missions abroad with identical programmes.

Since midnight Wednesday, different units of Awami League and other organisations played on mikes the March 7 epoch-making independence speech of Bangabandhu delivered at the historic Race Course Maidan, now Suhrawardy Udyan, and the immortal songs of the War of Liberation in observance of the Independence Day.