People pay homage to the martyrs at the National Memorial at Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka, marking the country’s 47th Victory Day on Saturday. — Indrajit Ghosh
The nation on Saturday celebrated the 47th Victory Day paying tribute to the freedom fighters who made the supreme sacrifice in the War for Independence to free the nation from marauding Pakistani forces fighting successfully a nine-month war in 1971.
Thousands of people from all walks of life streamed to the National Memorial at Savar and other memorials across the country holding the green and red national flag to pay homage to martyred freedom fighters.
Carrying banners, wreaths, follower petals and wearing head bands inscribed with the slogans of the Victory Day, thousands of people from all strata converged near the National Memorial since the dawn.
Other programmes of the day included hoisting of the national flag on top of all national and private institutions, placing of wreaths at the National Memorial at Savar, decorating the road-islands tastefully, processions, discussions, cultural soirees and illumination at night.
The Victory Day, a public holiday, was heralded by a pre-day 31-gun salute at the dawn.
President Abdul Hamid and prime minister Sheikh Hasina paid rich tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War by placing wreaths at the National Memorial Saturday morning.
The president placed a wreath at the altar of the National Memorial and stood there in solemn silence for some time as a mark of respect to the memories of the Liberation War martyrs.
He also signed the visitors’ book kept at the premises of the National Memorial.
Immediately after the president, prime minister Sheikh Hasina paid homage to the martyrs placing wreath at the National Memorial. She too stood there in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the martyrs.
A smartly turned out contingent drawn from Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh Air Force presented a state salute on the occasion when bugles played the last post.
Sheikh Hasina, flanked by senior leaders of the ruling Awami League, laid another wreath at the National Memorial as the party chief.
The speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad, the acting chief justice, ministers, Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia, the leader of the opposition in parliament, the chiefs of the three services, members of parliament, freedom fighters, diplomats and high civil and military officials also paid homage to the martyrs.
As the day wore on, the whole memorial area became crowded with people of all ages and different political, socio-cultural and professional organisations and different institutions stood in queue at the memorial ground to place wreaths and pay tribute to the freedom fighters.
People were allowed into the hallowed National Memorial ground after the VIPs left.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia, along with her party’s senior leaders, placed wreaths at the National Memorial altar.
President Abdul Hamid and prime minister Sheikh Hainsa took the salute at Victory Day parade led by Bangladesh Army, at the National Parade Ground.
The prime minister paid the homage by placing a wreath at the portrait of the country’s founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi.
BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, along with her party leaders, also paid homage placing a wreath at the grave side of late president Ziaur Rahman, also the founder of the party.
On December 16, 1971, the commander of 93,000 marauding troops of Pakistan army, Lieutenant General AAK Niazi, surrendered at the Ramna Race Course, now Suhrawardy Udyan, in Dhaka.
Political parties, cultural and professional organisations and educational institutions held discussions and rallies and brought out processions to celebrate the Victory Day.
Public buildings were decorated with lights.
Special prayers were offered at mosques, temples, churches and other places of worship for national progress and prosperity.
Improved diet was served at orphanages, hospitals and jails across the country.
Five commemorative stamps were cancelled by the prime minister. All children parks and museums remained open free of cost.
Newspapers brought out special supplements and television channels and radio stations aired special programmes to mark the Victory Day.
Ruling Awami League brought out victory day processions from Suhrawardy Udyan and marched to Dhanmondi 32.
BNP is scheduled for today to bring out Victory Day procession.
The government tightened security in the capital and the rest of the country.
At least 20 people, including cops and journalists, were injured as local leaders and activists of the ruling Awami League and opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party clashed during Victory Day celebration in Chuadanga and Lalmonirhat on Saturday.
Source: New Age.
