President Mahinda Rajapaksa who arrived in Bangladesh for a three-day official visit, paid a floral tribute at the National Martyr's Memorial in Dhaka.

Jatiyo Smriti Soudho or National Martyrs' Memorial is dedicated to the memory of the martyrs of the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971.

President Rajapaksa planted a mango sapling to mark his visit to the Memorial and signed the Guests book.

In 1971, Bangladesh seceded from Pakistan. Prior to the creation of Pakistan in 1947, modern-day Bangladesh which was East Pakistan was part of India.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the first leader of Bangladesh, from 1972 until his assassination in 1975. The current Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina Wajed, is his daughter. The opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party is led by Begum Khaleda Zia, who is the widow of the revered freedom fighter and former president Ziaur Rahman.