Day-long Victory Day celebrations
The nation joyously celebrated its 53rd Victory Day today, a day of utmost significance, by paying heartfelt tributes to the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War and reflecting on the glorious history scripted 52 years ago when the nation gained freedom from prolonged subjugation.
On December 16, 1971, Bangladesh emerged as an independent state under the leadership of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, at the cost of the supreme sacrifices of three million people and the honour of nearly half a million women.
In commemoration of this historic day, President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid homage to the martyrs by laying wreaths at the National Memorial in Savar this morning. The President laid the wreath at the National Memorial altar at 6:33 am, followed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
A contingent from the Bangladesh Army, Navy, and Air Force presented the state salute during the ceremony. After laying the wreath, President Shahabuddin observed a solemn silence as a mark of profound respect for the memories of the 1971 martyrs, accompanied by the playing of the last post on the bugle. He also signed the visitors' book.
Following suit, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also the president of the ruling Awami League, placed another wreath at the National Memorial as the party chief, with senior party leaders in attendance.
As the President and the Prime Minister left the National Memorial premises, people from all walks of life were allowed to pay their tributes to the 1971 martyrs by placing wreaths.
Various dignitaries, including Parliament Speaker Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan, diplomats, politicians, artists, intellectuals, freedom fighters, and professionals, paid glowing tributes to the martyrs. Patriotic songs and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's historic March 7 speech echoed through loudspeakers at the National Memorial.
People, dressed in green and red attire, flooded the memorial, irrespective of gender and age, to place wreaths from dawn till afternoon. Wounded freedom fighters, offspring of martyrs' families, and political parties, including Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Gono Forum, Jukto Front, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Workers Party, and Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), also paid their respects.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina additionally paid rich tributes to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing a wreath at his portrait in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum. Flanked by senior party leaders, she stood in solemn silence as a mark of profound respect to the memory of the great leader and architect of the country's independence.
A delegation of the Awami League, led by presidium member Lt. Col. (Retd) Faruk Khan, paid tributes to Bangabandhu by placing a wreath at his mausoleum in Tungipara, Gopalganj district.
Bangladesh Police also honoured martyr members of the police by placing wreaths at the Rajarbagh memorial. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan was present, and a smartly turned-out police contingent gave a guard of honour to the martyrs.
In the afternoon, President Mohammed Shahabuddin and his wife Dr. Rebecca Sultana hosted a reception at Bangabhaban, marking Victory Day. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her sister Sheikh Rehana joined the reception on the lush green lawn of Bangabhaban.
The event, attended by dignitaries such as Parliament Speaker Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan, took place from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm. The reception saw the presence of cabinet members, advisers, state ministers, ambassadors, high commissioners, Supreme Court judges, members of parliament, war veterans, political leaders, academics, business leaders, artists, and families of gallantry award recipients.
Newspaper editors and journalist leaders were also part of the festive gathering, along with top civil and military officials. President Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina cut a cake during the reception, exchanging greetings with injured freedom fighters and other dignitaries.
Victory Day, a national holiday celebrated on December 16, commemorates the victory of the Allied forces over the Pakistani occupation forces in the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. The day's national program included a 31-gun salute and the hoisting of the national flag at all government, semi-government, private offices, and offices of autonomous bodies across the country.
Receptions were hosted at various levels to honour freedom fighters and the families of martyrs. Special prayers were offered at mosques and other places of worship, seeking eternal peace for the souls of Liberation War martyrs and peace, progress, and prosperity for the country.
Improved diets were served in institutions across the country, and all children's parks and museums were open to the public without tickets. Liberation War-based films were screened in cinema halls nationwide free of charge.
A documentary and poster exhibition on the history and heritage of the Liberation War took place at Swadhinata Stambha and the Underground Museum at Suhrawardy Udyan in the city. Similar programs were organized at district and upazila levels, as well as in Bangladesh missions abroad, highlighting the significance of the day.
The Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) organized a victory procession from the Jatiya Press Club (JPC) premises, inaugurated by the Information and Broadcasting Minister and AL Joint General Secretary Dr. Hasan Mahmud. DUJ President Sohel Haider Chowdhury presided over a pre-procession rally, and JPC President Farida Yasmin and DUJ General Secretary Akter Hossain also addressed the gathering.
A special exhibition titled "Bangabandhu, Muktijuddho O Bijoy" was organized at the Nalinikanto Bhattashali Exhibiting Gallery at the Bangladesh National Museum. State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid addressed the inaugural ceremony as the chief guest, with Bangladesh National Museum Board of Trustees Chairman Professor AAMS Arefin Siddique chairing it. Additional Secretary of Cultural Affairs Ministry Md Imrul Chowdhury and National Museum Director General Md. Kamruzzaman also spoke.
A discussion and cultural ceremony were held at Shilpakala Academy at Segun Bagicha, with KM Khalid addressing the discussion as the chief guest.
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