Saturday, March 26 2005 14:48 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Dhaka: Bangladesh today (Mar 26, 2005) marked its 34th Independence Anniversary with a colourful military parade and President Iajuddin Ahmed leading the countrymen in paying homage to the martyred freedom fighters.

A 31-gun salute welcomed the day as tens of thousands of people crowded the National Martyrs' Memorial in nearby Savar district.

Ahmed followed by Prime Minister Khaleda Zia drove to Savar as dawn broke and placed wreaths at a memorial dedicated to the martyrs of the country's nine-month India-backed war of independence.

The President then joined a military parade at the National Parade Square in Dhaka along with Zia, Ministers, diplomats and senior officials.

The parade displayed Chinese and American machinery, including tanks and aircraft, with colourful parade by the members of the armed forces and auxiliary forces, including women members.

In separate statements marking the day, the President, Prime Minister and opposition leader called for a better Bangladesh as well as remembering those who sacrificed their lives for the cause of independence.

Following a surprise crackdown on March 25, 1971, by Pakistani troops on unarmed Bengalis, the country's founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared independence on this day 34 years ago.

Lakhs of civilians took up weapons as Bengali-speaking members of the Pakistani armed forces in the then East Pakistan revolted and joined hands for freedom. The war ended with a victory on December 16, 1971, when the Pakistani troops surrendered to the joint Indo-Bangla command in Dhaka.