The Embassy of Bangladesh in Washington DC has celebrated the Independence and National Day of Bangladesh with a renewed vow to materialise the dreams of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the martyrs of the great Liberation War. The day's programmes began with hoisting of the National Flag by Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States M. Shahidul Islam on the Chancery premises. Later, the Ambassador, accompanied by the Embassy officials, placed a floral wreath at the bust of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. After laying the wreath, they stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memory of the great leader.  The messages issued on the occasion by the President M Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam were read out. Later, a discussion session was held at the Bangabandhu Auditorium of the Embassy. Taking part in the discussion session, Ambassador Shahidul Islam termed the great Independence Day as a glorious day of Bangladesh and extended his heartfelt greetings to all Bangalees across the USA on the occasion. He also paid deep homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and three million martyrs of the War of Liberation. The Ambassador recalled the bloody massacre in Dhaka perpetrated by the Pakistani military junta, breaking the silence of the night of 25 March in 1971 as they mercilessly killed hundreds of thousands of innocent sleeping Bangalees, including teachers, students, police members, soldiers, pedestrians and rickshaw-pullers. Ambassador Islam said in the wake of the Pakistan army's barbaric attack on the unarmed Bangalees, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared the independence of Bangladesh at the first hour of 26th March in1971. The nation, he said, soon launched the War of Liberation at the call of the Father of the Nation, and under his fearless leadership, Bangladesh achieved long-cherished independence on December 16 in 1971 after the nine-month bloody war against Pakistan. The Ambassador said Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman fought throughout his life for transforming Bangladesh into a peaceful and prosperous 'Sonar Bangla' (Golden Bengal). But Bangabandhu could not materialise his cherished dream as he was brutally assassinated by the anti-liberation elements on the black night of 15th August in 1975, Ambassador Islam continued. "So we have to work unitedly and ceaselessly to turn Bangladesh into a developed and prosperous country being imbued with the ideology of the Father of the Nation and the spirit of the War of Liberation," he concluded. The programmes ended with offering a special prayer seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of the Father of the Nation and the martyrs of the Liberation War. "Genocide Day” Observed  The Embassy also observed the “Genocide Day” on Friday, recalling one of the most brutal genocides in world history that was committed by the Pakistan army on 25th March in 1971 in Bangladesh. The Embassy organized elaborate programmes to pay deep homage to the martyrs who were killed mercilessly by the Pakistan military junta's operation code named "Operation Searchlight” on the black night of 25th March that year. The day's programmes began with observance of one-minute silence to pay profound respect to the martyrs of the War of Liberation. This was followed by screening of a documentary titled "Recognising the 1971 Bangladesh Genocide: An Appeal for Rendering Justice". Later, the messages issued by the President and the Prime Minister were read out. A special prayer was offered seeking divine blessings for eternal peace of the departed souls of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the martyrs of the War of Liberation. Ferdousi Shahriar, the Charge d'Affaires of the Bangladesh Embassy, Professor Irene Victoria Massimino, Co-founder and Co-President of the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention, and Dr. Tawheed Reza Noor, Visiting Scholar of the State University of New York and Member of International Association for Genocide Scholars (IAGS) spoke at a discussion session held virtually at the Embassy. Dr. Tawheed Reza Noor, son of martyred intellectual and renowned journalist Serajuddin Hossain, worked with the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention (LIGP) that on 31 December, 2021 recognized as "Genocide" the Pakistan army's atrocities during Bangladesh’s Liberation War in 1971. READ: Independence Day celebrated in New Delhi Noor played an instrumental role behind the historic recognition as the US-based organisation responded positively to his appeal which he initiated with the institute in mid-November last year, the year that commemorated 50th anniversary of Independence of Bangladesh. The Visiting Scholar of the State University of New York said Genocide Watch, another US-based organisation, recognised as genocide the brutal crimes committed by the Pakistani occupation forces a month after LIGP's recognition. Prof Massimino, in her remarks, paid tributes to the victims of genocide in Bangladesh and said that the genocide was committed in 1971 against Bengali nation and identity. Praising the Bangladesh government for its efforts to earn international recognition of the genocide, Prof Massimino, also a lawyer from Argentina, said there are many legal elements to recognise the genocide committed in 1971. The Co-founder of Lemkin Institute recalled her visit to different sites that bear the marks of genocide in Bangladesh. Both the speakers shared their thoughts on the efforts of the Bangladesh government and suggested to take a well laid out plan to move forward with the recognition process. The Charge d'Affaires, in her speech, paid deepest respect to the greatest Bangalee of all times, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and three million martyrs of the Liberation War. Ferdousi Shahriar said Bangabandhu formally proclaimed the independence of Bangladesh at the first hour of the 26th March 1971 after the Pakistan army's barbaric attack.Under Bangabandhu's fearless leadership, Bangladesh achieved ultimate victory on December 16 in 1971 after the nine-month bloody war against Pakistan, she said. READ: Independence Day celebrated at DU The programmes of the Embassy ended with staging 'Candle Light Vigil' in memory of the martyrs of the War of Liberation.