Bangladesh celebrates the 45th Victory Day today recalling the heroic freedom fighters who made the supreme sacrifice in the War for Independence to free the nation from Pakistani occupation forces.
People across the country will stream to memorials to pay homage to the martyrs of 1971.
On this day in 1971, the nine-month war for independence ended with the Bengali nation clinching victory against the marauding army of Pakistan.
The war for independence was preceded by 23 years of intense political struggle for democracy, national identity and national liberation.
On December 16, 1971, the commander of 93,000 marauding troops of Pakistan army, Lieutenant General AAK Niazi, surrendered at Ramna Race Course, now Suhrawardy Udyan, in Dhaka.
The Victory Day, a public holiday, is heralded by pre-day 31-gun salute.
People will stream to the National Memorial at Savar to pay homage to the valiant freedom fighters who gave life so that the nation could live.
President Abdul Hamid, prime minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia and leader of the opposition in parliament Raushan Ershad, in separate messages, hailed the day.
The president in his massage said, ‘I call upon my fellow countrymen irrespective of party affiliation to contribute more from their respective position towards building our country upholding the objectives and spirit of War of Liberation’.
Sheikh Hasina called on all to come forward and uphold the development and democratic process, being imbued with the spirit of the War of Independence.
Khaleda Zia said that conspiracy was still on although the beloved motherland was freed from enemy in 1971. The plotters are trying to make Bangladesh a subservient country and people who grabbed power forcibly are trying to implement programmes to uproot democratic forces, she said.
They are expected to place wreaths at the National Memorial at Savar.
Families of seven Bir Shresthas, a group of wounded freedom fighters and their associations, political parties and other socio-cultural and political organisations and institutions will also place wreath at the National Memorial.
The president and the prime minister will attend the Victory Day parade at National Parade Square in the capital.
The three services, BGB, police, freedom fighters, Fire Service and Civil Defence and Ansar and Village Defense Party will take part in the parade.
Important buildings are being illuminated. The green and red national flag will be flown atop all buildings. Special prayers will be offered at mosques, temples, churches and other worship places, seeking divine blessings for peace and progress of the country. Improved diet would be served at orphanage, hospital and jails across the country.
Commemorative stamps will be cancelled. All children parks and museums will remain open free of cost.
Newspapers will bring out special supplements and television channels and radio stations will air special programmes to mark the Victory Day.
Major political parties and social, cultural and professional organisations and educational institutions will celebrate the day through separate programmes. Ruling Awami League and opposition BNP will bring out victory day rallies in the capital.
The government has tightened security in the capital and the rest of the country.
The marauding army of Pakistan and its local collaborators committed one of history’s worst genocides in Bangladesh killing countless unarmed Bengalis during in nine months of the War of Independence.
Jamaat-e-Islami and a host of parties opposed to independence collaborated with the occupation army of Pakistan.
People across the country will stream to memorials to pay homage to the martyrs of 1971.
On this day in 1971, the nine-month war for independence ended with the Bengali nation clinching victory against the marauding army of Pakistan.
The war for independence was preceded by 23 years of intense political struggle for democracy, national identity and national liberation.
On December 16, 1971, the commander of 93,000 marauding troops of Pakistan army, Lieutenant General AAK Niazi, surrendered at Ramna Race Course, now Suhrawardy Udyan, in Dhaka.
The Victory Day, a public holiday, is heralded by pre-day 31-gun salute.
People will stream to the National Memorial at Savar to pay homage to the valiant freedom fighters who gave life so that the nation could live.
President Abdul Hamid, prime minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia and leader of the opposition in parliament Raushan Ershad, in separate messages, hailed the day.
The president in his massage said, ‘I call upon my fellow countrymen irrespective of party affiliation to contribute more from their respective position towards building our country upholding the objectives and spirit of War of Liberation’.
Sheikh Hasina called on all to come forward and uphold the development and democratic process, being imbued with the spirit of the War of Independence.
Khaleda Zia said that conspiracy was still on although the beloved motherland was freed from enemy in 1971. The plotters are trying to make Bangladesh a subservient country and people who grabbed power forcibly are trying to implement programmes to uproot democratic forces, she said.
They are expected to place wreaths at the National Memorial at Savar.
Families of seven Bir Shresthas, a group of wounded freedom fighters and their associations, political parties and other socio-cultural and political organisations and institutions will also place wreath at the National Memorial.
The president and the prime minister will attend the Victory Day parade at National Parade Square in the capital.
The three services, BGB, police, freedom fighters, Fire Service and Civil Defence and Ansar and Village Defense Party will take part in the parade.
Important buildings are being illuminated. The green and red national flag will be flown atop all buildings. Special prayers will be offered at mosques, temples, churches and other worship places, seeking divine blessings for peace and progress of the country. Improved diet would be served at orphanage, hospital and jails across the country.
Commemorative stamps will be cancelled. All children parks and museums will remain open free of cost.
Newspapers will bring out special supplements and television channels and radio stations will air special programmes to mark the Victory Day.
Major political parties and social, cultural and professional organisations and educational institutions will celebrate the day through separate programmes. Ruling Awami League and opposition BNP will bring out victory day rallies in the capital.
The government has tightened security in the capital and the rest of the country.
The marauding army of Pakistan and its local collaborators committed one of history’s worst genocides in Bangladesh killing countless unarmed Bengalis during in nine months of the War of Independence.
Jamaat-e-Islami and a host of parties opposed to independence collaborated with the occupation army of Pakistan.
Source: New Age
