Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina honored the memory of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on Thursday by laying wreaths at his portrait at Dhanmondi 32, commemorating the historic March 7 speech.

At 7 am on Thursday, the prime minister paid her respects to the great leader by placing a wreath at his portrait in front of the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in the capital. She observed a moment of silence to show reverence to the architect of Bangladesh's independence.

Accompanied by senior leaders of the Awami League, Sheikh Hasina later laid another wreath at Bangabandhu's portrait, paying homage on behalf of her party.

Members and supporters of the Awami League's affiliated organizations, including Jubo League, Chhatra League, Mohila Awami League, Sramik League, Krishak League, Jubo Mohila League, and Swechasebak League, also paid their respects to Bangabandhu by laying wreaths at his portrait on this occasion.

March 7, 1971, marks the day when Bangabandhu delivered his historic speech, calling for independence after the Pakistani military rulers initiated a brutal crackdown on Bangalees instead of transferring power to the Awami League, the winner of the general election.

In 2017, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) recognized Bangabandhu's historic speech as a world documentary heritage.

On March 7, 1971, Bangabandhu, the undisputed leader of the Bangalees, delivered his groundbreaking speech of independence before a massive rally at Suhrawardy Udyan (then Race Course Maidan) in Dhaka.

In his extemporaneous 19-minute speech, Bangabandhu called for a non-cooperation movement and urged the nation to prepare for a war of independence to liberate the country from the repressive Pakistani regime.

"The struggle this time is for freedom, the struggle this time is for independence. Joy Bangla," declared Bangabandhu at the monumental rally.