Dhaka, March 26 -- Bangladesh is celebrating 53 years of independence and paying tribute to the victims of the genocide unleashed by the Pakistan Army at the start of the 1971 War, which led to the liberation of the Bengali people from the occupying forces.

The day will be heralded with 31-gun salutes at dawn on Tuesday, with programmes throughout to remember the martyrs.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will lead the tributes to the martyrs by placing wreaths at the National Memorial in Savar.

Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema have arrived in Dhaka to join the celebrations.

The British quit the Indian subcontinent in 1947, but the people of Bengali-dominated East Pakista...