Google doodle celebrating Bangladesh’s Independence Day

Search engine giant Google on Thursday replaced its regular home page graphic with a special doodle marking Bangladesh’s 49th Independence and National Day, reports news agency UNB.

The new doodle features five water lilies, the national flower of the country, floating in the water.

Google marks many special occasions with customised doodles, changing its logo on the homepage to reflect the occasion.

Google in its message said, “Home to the Sundarbans (the world’s largest mangrove forest), as well as Cox’s Bazar (the world’s longest stretch of beach), the People’s Republic of Bangladesh celebrates its independence today.”

It said an autonomous republic, the nation formerly known as East Pakistan, became Bangladesh 49 years ago. The country then adopted the Shapla or water lily, depicted in the Doodle artwork, as its national emblem and flower.

In honour of the country’s freedom, the Bangladeshi flag proudly flies atop many of its buildings. Featuring a red disk against a green backdrop, the flag of Bangladesh represents the sun rising across the nation’s abundant flora and natural beauty, the search engine giant said.

It also wished ‘Happy Independence Day, Bangladesh!’

On 26 March 1971, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared Bangladesh’s independence following the crackdown on unarmed Bangalees on the midnight of 25 March by Pakistani occupation forces.

After the nine-month Liberation War with the supreme sacrifices of three million martyrs and the honour of 200,000 women, Bangladesh achieved its cherished independence on 16 December 1971, the victory day.