The ruling Awami League and its affiliated organizations are commemorating the historic March 7 with extensive programs in the capital and throughout the country. In Dhaka, party leader and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, along with party members, paid tribute to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Bangabandhu Museum in Dhanmondi at 7am. To celebrate the occasion, Awami League will host a discussion at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre at 3pm, with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as the keynote speaker. Special programs highlighting the importance of the day will be broadcast on Bangladesh Betar (radio), Bangladesh Television, and other private TV channels. The historical importance of the day can be traced back to 1971 when Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, during a large gathering at Suhrawardy Udyan, had called for a liberation movement. In response to his call, the people of East Pakistan took up arms against the Pakistani occupation army in a nine-month bloody war, which ultimately led to the birth of Bangladesh as an independent nation. President Mohammad Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina both emphasized the historical significance of the day in separate statements. The president stated, "March 7 is a day that will always be remembered in the history of the Bengali nation. On this day, I pay tribute to the father of our nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who spearheaded the struggle for the establishment of an independent and sovereign Bangladesh." He further mentioned that the 'Golden Bengal', which had been a longstanding aspiration of Bangabandhu, has not yet been realized. To achieve this vision, the country must confront issues such as hunger, poverty, superstitions, and the impacts of climate change. The prime minister noted that the powerful speech on March 7 expressed the desires of the nation before the liberation war, following years of subjugation by West Pakistan. She also highlighted how this speech had brought the nation together and paved the way for the liberation war.