Armed Forces Day being observed

Tributes have been paid to martyred war heroes with solemnity on the Armed Forces Day. A remembrance ceremony was held at Shikha Anirban (Eternal Flame) in Dhaka Cantonment on Friday morning. The day is observed each year on November 21 in memory of the sacrifices made by the members of the armed forces who died fighting during the country's independence struggles in 1971. President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina placed wreaths at the Eternal Flame and observed a minute's silence in honour of the martyrs. Chiefs of the Army, Navy and the Air Force were present at the Shikha Anirban. Special prayers will be held at all army garrisons and naval and air force bases across the country, seeking divine blessings for the wellbeing and prosperity of the nation and development of the Armed Forces. State-owned Bangladesh Television and other private TV channels are telecasting special programmes and the daily newspapers have published special issues marking the day. Prime minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to attend a reception at Senakunja in Dhaka Cantonment in the afternoon. Parliament Speaker, Leader of the Opposition, chief justice, former presidents, politicians and diplomats are also expected to attend the reception, according to a news agency.