Bangladesh Marks 56th Independence Day with Grand Celebrations and Tributes

• Bangladesh celebrated its 56th Independence Day from Pakistan with 31 military gun salutes and a presidential civic reception.
• President Mohammad Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman paid tributes at the National Memorial.
• The armed forces staged a traditional Independence Day parade featuring a flag-bearing skydive, fly-past, and aerobatic display.
• The celebration occurred amidst a changed political scenario, with Jamaat-e-Islami emerging as the main opposition and visiting the National Memorial for the first time.
• The day commemorates the 1971 Liberation War, which began after Pakistan Army's 'Operation Searchlight' to suppress Bengali demands for democracy.