India celebrated the 74th Independence Day on Saturday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to the countrymen to make India a “self-reliant” country.
He said the “self-reliant India can contribute to the world more”.
Indian missions across the world celebrated the day. But in Dhaka, the High Commission maintained low key as the day coincided with the National Mourning Day of Bangladesh.
On August 15 in 1975, Bangladesh’s founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was killed along with his family members by some disgruntled army men at his Dhanmondhi-32 residence.
His daughters - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana – survived as they were abroad then.
The Indian High Commission in Dhaka observed the day inside the chancery premises with High Commissioner Riva Ganguly Das unfurling the national flag and reading out the President’s address to the nation.
Members of the Indian Community in Dhaka joined the event over social media due to the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic.
In New Delhi, the event at Red Fort this year was relatively muted in terms of participation of people in view of the situation created by COVID-19, which has affected over 24 lakh people in the country.
In view of the situation, the general public was not been invited to the event.
Instead, 1,500 corona warriors, including 500 police personnel who have recovered from the infection, attended the function in a symbol of the citizens' determination to fight the pandemic and emerge winners.
In his address, Modi paid tribute to corona warriors who are at the forefront of the battle against the coronavirus pandemic.
He said making India self-reliant should not just a word but should be a “mantra” for all countrymen.
“I am confident that India will realise this dream. I am confident of the abilities, confidence and potential of my fellow Indians. Once we decide to do something, we do not rest till we achieve that goal," PM said.
He also launched a National Digital Health Mission and said it will usher in a revolution in India’s health sector.
He said every Indian will now get a unique health ID. He also said the country must not only ‘Make in India’ but also ‘Make for the World’.
