Hundreds of colourful balloons were released in the sky from Shahbagh Square in memory of
martyrs of the Language Movement and the Liberation War as the round-the-clock protests there entered its 16th day on February 20.

The protesters observed the unique programme by chanting "Joy Bangla" slogan while releasing balloons with letters for the martyrs.

Youngsters in major cities staged identical demonstrations releasing the balloons with writings of symbolic letters to martyrs of the 1952 language movement, subsequent pro-democracy
nationalist campaigns and the 1971 Liberation War.

The organizers selected 4.13 pm as the time for simultaneous release of the balloons coinciding with the moment of December 16, 1971 surrender by the Pakistani troops along with their
Bengali accomplices.

The demonstrators of Shahbagh sit-in were waging movement demanding capital punishment to the identified war criminals --- who committed crimes against the humanity in 1971 Liberation War
--- for the 16th consecutive day, freed balloons just at 4:13pm when the Pakistani forces surrendered on December 16 in 1971 after a nine-month bloodshed.

The programme was also simultaneously observed in different parts of the country as the Shahbagh protest has spread across  Bangladesh with youngsters staging identical sit-ins in major
cities and towns.

Witnesses said millions of colorful balloons were released at the 'Shahbagh Projanmma Chattar' where youngsters and people of all walks of life gathered under a non-political banner "Blogger
and Online Activists Network."

Leading organiser of the Shahbagh sit-in Imran Sarker, educationist Prof Dr Zafar Iqbal, sculpture Ferdousi
Priyabhashini, journalist Shariar Kabir, among others, were present on the occasion.