The ruling Awami League and its affiliated organizations are commemorating the historic March 7 with extensive events in the capital and throughout the country. In Dhaka, party leader and prime minister Sheikh Hasina, along with party members, paid respects at the mural of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Bangabandhu Museum in Dhanmondi at 7am. To honor the day, Awami League will host a discussion session at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre at 3pm, where Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will speak as the chief guest. Special programs about the importance of the day will be broadcasted on Bangladesh Betar (radio), Bangladesh Television, and other private television channels. The day holds historical importance since 1971 when Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman called for the liberation movement at a rally in Suhrawardy Udyan. This led to the people of East Pakistan taking up arms against the Pakistani occupation army in a nine-month war, resulting in the birth of Bangladesh as an independent nation. President Mohammad Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina emphasized the historical significance of the day in separate statements. President Rahman remembered Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for his leadership in the struggle for an independent Bangladesh on March 7. He further mentioned that the vision of 'Golden Bengal' envisioned by Bangabandhu has not yet been achieved. The country must combat challenges such as hunger, poverty, superstitions, and the impacts of climate change in order to make the dream of Golden Bengal a reality. The prime minister stated that the iconic speech on March 7 reflected the aspirations of the nation before the liberation war, following years of oppression by West Pakistan. She also noted that the powerful speech had brought the nation together and paved the way for the liberation war.