Victory Day being celebrated across the country
DHAKA, Dec 16, 2021 (BSS) –
The nation is celebrating the 51st Victory Day,
the most precious day of the Bangalee people, today as the country was
liberated from the Pakistani occupation forces on the day 50 years back after
a nine-month-long bloodstained war.
On December 16 in 1971, Bangladesh was born as an independent country
under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman at the cost of supreme sacrifice of three million people and the
honour of 200000 women.
President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid rich
tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War by placing wreaths at the
National Memorial in capital’s outskirts Savar this morning, marking the 51st
Victory Day.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also paid homage to Father of the Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman this morning on the occasion.
President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier also
issued separate messages on the occasion, paying glowing tributes to the
martyrs of the Liberation War in 1971.
The celebration of the Victory Day this year has added a new dimension as
the day is set to be celebrated coinciding with the two giant celebrations –
birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and
golden jubilee of the country’s independence.
Marking the two celebrations, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman’s Birth Centenary Celebration National Implementation
Committee has taken up a two-day special programme titled ‘the Great Hero of
the Great Victory’ at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad in the city from
December 16 to 17.
At the beginning of the first day’s programme, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
is expected to administer an oath to the nation at 4:30pm today as part of
the celebrations.
At the second session of the programme, a discussion will be held with
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
President M Abdul Hamid will be present as the chief guest while his Indian
counterpart Ram Nath Kovind will be the guest of honour at the discussion.
Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque and Speaker of the
Jatiya Sangsad Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury will speak at the event while
Chief Coordinator of the implementation committee Dr Kamal Abdul Naser
Chowdhury will deliver the welcome speech.
On the occasion, Bangabandhu’s younger daughter Sheikh Rehana will present
the “Sraddha Smarak- Mujib Chironton” to the guest of honour.
On December 17, a cultural function will be organised on the Sangsad
premises around 5:30pm.
All programmes marking the giant celebrations will be held maintaining the
health guidelines in face of the global pandemic COVID-19.
Today’s programmes taken at national levels marking the ‘Victory Day’ began
with placing of wreaths at the monuments to pay homage to martyrs, hoisting
of the national flags atop all government, semi- government and private
offices as well as offices of autonomous bodies across the country.
The victory day’s programmes also include decorating city streets with
miniature national flags and colourful festoons, and illumination of
important buildings and establishments, roads and street islands at night.
Leaders of Awami League, members of Bir Sreshthos, wounded freedom
fighters and Bir Muktijoddhas, foreign diplomats, and different political and
social organisations and people from all walks of life are paying tributes to
the martyrs of the Liberation War on Victory Day.
Contingents of Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force as well as Freedom
Fighters, Para-military forces, law enforcement agencies and various
ministries of the government are participating in the parade starting at the
National Parade Square in the city at 10.30am.
President Abdul Hamid will be present there, and inspect the parade and
take salute on the occasion while Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will witness
the parade.
Besides, a discussion on the best utilization of digital technology and
upholding the spirit of the Liberation War in building Sonar Bangla as dreamt
by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman will be held on the
occasion.
Receptions will be accorded to valiant freedom fighters and family members
of martyrs in the metropolis, districts and upazilas across the country.
Following the health guidelines, special prayers will be offered at
mosques and other places of worship, seeking eternal peace of the departed
souls of the martyrs of the Liberation War and peace, progress and prosperity
of the country.
All children parks and museum across the country will remain open for all
and Liberation War based movies will be screened at the cinema halls at free
of cost on the day.
A poster exhibition and historical documentary screening will be held at
Swadhinata Stambha and Underground Museum at the Suhrawardy Udyan in the
city.
Similar programmes will be taken at district and upazila levels as well as
Bangladesh missions abroad, highlighting the significance of the day.
The day is a public holiday.
National dailies brought out special supplements on the occasion while
Bangladesh Postal Department will release memorial postage stamps.
The state-owned and private televisions and radios are broadcasting
special programmes highlighting the Liberation War.
Marking the day, improved diets will be served to inmates of jails,
hospitals, orphanages and vagrant homes across the country.
Besides, various political, social and cultural organizations including
Bangladesh Awami League, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Bangla Academy,
National Museum, Liberation War Museum, Bangladesh Shishu Academy, are
celebrating the day with different programmes.
Marking the day, ruling AL hoisted national and party flags at the central
party office, Bangabandhu Bhaban and all the party offices across the country
with the sunrise.
The party also placed wreath at the national memorial at Savar. It also
laid wreath at the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman on the premises of historic Bangabandhu Bhaban at Dhanmondi 32
in the city.
A delegation of AL will pay tribute to Bangabandhu placing wreath at his
grave at Tungipara in Gopalganj.
AL presidium members Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Faruque Khan and Shahjahan
Khan, central working committee members Iqbal Hossen Apu and Syed Abdul Awal
Shamim will be present on the occasion.
Besides, AL leaders and activists will participate in the oath-taking
ceremony which will be administered by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at South
Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad at 4:30pm.
The party will also bring out a victory rally from Suhrawardy Udyan
marking the golden jubilee of the victory at 2:30pm on December 18, which
will end at the historic Bangabandhu Bhaban in the city’s Dhanmondi 32 no
road.
Party units and its associate bodies across the country will also bring out
‘Victory Day’ rallies keeping similarity with the AL’s central programmes.
Awami League general Secretary Obaidul Quader has called upon the people
including the party leaders, activists and supporters to celebrate the day
marking golden jubilee of the country’s independence, maintaining the health
guidelines.
