President takes salute, PM witnesses parade at National Parade Square
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today witnessed the Independence and National Day Parade while President Mohammed Shahabuddin took the salute and inspected the parade as the chief guest.
The parade was held at the National Parade Ground here marking the 56th Independence and National Day, after a gap of 18 years, reports BSS.
The parade was organized under the auspices of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs with support of the Armed Forces Division and overall management of the 9th Infantry Division.
Freedom fighters, armed forces, paramilitary forces and members of Fire Service and Civil Defence took part in the parade.
General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 9th Infantry Division and Area Commander of Savar Area Major General SM Asadul Haque performed as the parade commander while Commander of the 71 Mechanized Brigade Brigadier General Mohammad Shafqat-Ul-Islam served as the deputy commander.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin, accompanied by Parade Commander Major General SM Asadul Haque, riding an open jeep inspected the parade and took the salute.
A total of 25 contingents from different forces saluted the President.
During the parade, Commander of 9 Artillery Brigade Brigadier General Md Anwar Uz Zaman led the combined mechanized contingent. The mechanized display included significant military weapons. In addition, decorated vehicles carried freedom fighters who saluted the President.
Fly pasts by Army Aviation, Naval Aviation, BGB Air Wing and RAB Forces and freefall jumps by adventurous Para Commando members made the parade more interesting.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman also witnessed the attractive freefall jumps, spectacular fly-past and aerobatic display.
Prime Minister’s daughter Barrister Zaima Rahman also witnessed the parade and the displays.
Before departing from the ground, the President and the Prime Minister exchanged pleasantries with the armed forces members.
Earlier, on his arrival at the parade ground at 9.57am, the Prime Minister was escorted by a ceremonial motorcade of military police, while advancing towards the saluting dais.
Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan, State Minister Ishraque Hossain, Prime Minister’s Defence Adviser Brigadier General (Retd) Dr AKM Shamsul Islam, chiefs of the three services, principal staff officer of the Armed Forces Division and liberation war affairs secretary received the Prime Minister.
Then the premier, along with other officials, received the President on the parade ground.
Every year, March 26 brings the most tragic reminiscence of history’s blackest episode that heralded a nine-month bloody ordeal from the night of March 25, 1971, achieving the long-cherished independence on December 16 the same year at the cost of a sea of blood.
According to the ISPR, in order to uphold the true history of the great independence and Liberation War to the new generation, a significant number of banners and billboards containing the spirit of the great Independence and National Day were installed on specific roads in the capital, including the National Parade Square.
These banners and billboards reflected the great Liberation War and the immortal history and heritage of the Bangalee nation.
In addition, pictures of notable activities of all the forces participating in the parade were displayed on the parade ground.
