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 at 7am. Awami League will conduct a discussion session at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre at 3pm to honor the occasion, with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as the chief guest. Special programs emphasizing the importance of the day will be broadcast on Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television, and other private TV channels. The day has historical importance as it goes back to 1971 when Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman called for the liberation movement during a rally at Suhrawardy Udyan. This led to the people of East Pakistan taking up arms against the Pakistani occupation army, resulting in a nine-month war that 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. President Rahman expressed that March 7 is a memorable day in Bengali history and paid tribute to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for leading the struggle for the establishment of an independent Bangladesh. He further mentioned that the 'Golden Bengal', a vision that Bangabandhu had always dreamed of, has not yet been realized. In order to make this dream a reality, the country must combat issues such as hunger, poverty, superstitions, and the negative impacts of climate change. The prime minister stated that the iconic March 7 speech reflected the aspirations of the nation before the liberation war, following years of subjugation by West Pakistan. She also noted that this powerful speech had brought the nation together and sparked the liberation war.