Expatriate Bangladeshis in California, the largest state in the USA, observed Independence Day on March 26 in a befitting manner.
Bangladeshi-American diaspora organisation "Banglar Bijoy Bahar" organised an iftar party and discussion meeting on this occasion at Bangla Mosque in Redlands, California.
The speakers at the meeting remembered the contribution of the brave freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives in the liberation war of Bangladesh.
The day was celebrated in different moods across the country.
This year's independence was celebrated by hoisting the Bangladeshi flag in the morning, discussion meeting in the afternoon and distribution of iftar among all the leaders and workers and expatriate Bangladeshis at the Bangla Mosque in Redlands.
The Bangla Mosque was founded in 1999 with financial donations from expatriate Bangladeshis and later it was named Islamic Society of California Mosque.
Special prayers were offered on this day to pray for the souls of the martyred freedom fighters.
Eddy Tehada, the mayor of Redlands, raised the American flag and Ismail Hossain, the president of organisation, hoisted Bangladeshi flag. They formally started the Independence Day program at the Redlands Islamic Society grounds.
In the afternoon, the discussion meeting was addressed by Bangladesh Association of Los Angeles Vice President Sultan Shahria Babu, Organizing Secretary Ehteshamul Haque, City Councilor Mikail Khan, Local Congressman Parthi Kausar Ahmed, Poet Shahidul Islam Roni, Reciter Bashir Atahar, Organizer Shawkat Hossain, Shafiq Titu Islam, BCI President Apu Bhai, Chairman of Jasmine Khan Foundation Moslem Khan, Adviser of Banglar Bijoy Bahar Dr. Zainul Abedin.
Rana Shawkat, host of Bangla TV, moderated the discussion meeting.