The nation celebrated the 43rd Victory Day on Monday amid a renewed pledge to fulfill the hopes and aspirations of the freedom fighters through ensuring peace and stability in the country and implementing the spirit of the war of liberation.The government, different political parties and socio-cultural organizations celebrated the day through various programmes, this time, with a new dimension following the execution of one of the war crimes convict for committing crimes against humanity in 1971.
Thousands of people from all sphere of life irrespective of religion, gender and age thronged the National Memorial from dawn to pay rich tributes to the heroic sons of the soil who made supreme sacrifice for the independence.
Many of them chanted slogans demanding execution of all the war crimes convicts immediately and vowed to make Bangladesh free from anti-liberation forces and militants.
The people, who went to the National Memorial, are found standing on a long queue to place wrath at the Memorial till noon.
In this day in 1971, Pakistani occupation forces had surrendered to the allied forces of Indian army and freedom fighters after a nine-month war, resulting in the emergence an independent, sovereign Bangladesh in the globe.
The day was heralded with 31 gun salutes at dawn. However, no parade was held this year as law enforcers are busy ahead of the forthcoming election scheduled for January 5.
The day was a public holiday.
President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister and Awami League president Sheikh Hasina and Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia paid rich tributes to the martyrs of Liberation War by placing wreaths at the National Memorial.
The President and the Prime Minister placed wreaths at the altar of the National Mausoleum at about 6.40am.
After placing the wreaths, President Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stood there in solemn silence for some time to show their respects to the memories of the martyrs of the war of liberation.
President Abdul Hamid signed the visitor’s book kept on the premises of the National Memorial.
A smartly turned out contingent of the army, the navy and the
air force presented state salute on the occasion when bugles
played the last post.
Leader of the opposition and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia also paid homage to the martyrs of war of liberation at 8:10am.
Chief Justice, deputy leader of the Parliament, ministers, deputy speaker, state ministers, chiefs of the three services, members of parliament, freedom fighters, diplomats, representatives of different development partners and high civil and military officials, among others, also placed wraths at the National Mausoleum.
Deputy Leader Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Deputy Speaker M Shawkat Ali and ministers and senior AL leaders including Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta, Dr Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, Abdul Latif Siddiqui, Obaidul Quader, Advocate Sahara Khatun, Shahjahan Khan, Dr Hasan Mahmood, Mahbubul Alam Hanif and Advocate Qamrul Islam, among others, wee also present on the occasion.
Later, the Prime Minister released a commemorative postage stamp and a first day cover at her official Gonobhaban residence marking the 43rd Victory Day.
Post and Telecommunications Minister Rashed Khan Menon, Ambassador-At-Large M Ziauddin and PM’s Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad, among others, were present on the occasion.
Earlier, they also issued separate messages to mark the day urging the people to work for consolidating sovereignty and independence of the country.
The national flag has been hoisted at all public and private buildings across the country on the occasion.
The AL chief along with the senior leaders also placed wreaths at the National Memorial on behalf of her party.
She also paid rich tributes to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing wreaths at his portrait in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi to mark the day.
After placing the wreath, the Prime Minister stood in solemn silence for some time there as a mark of respect to the memory of the great leader.
Meanwhile, President Abdul Hamid accorded a reception to freedom fighters at Bangabhaban in the afternoon.
Newspapers published special supplements while ststae run and private Radio and Television channels broadcast special programmes, highlighting the significance of the day.
Special prayers were offered at mosques, temples, churches, pagodas and other places of worship to seek divine blessings for peace and progress of the country.
A children’s rally was staged at the Bangabandhu National Stadium while an arms exhibition was arranged at the National Parade Square.
The destitute children wee allowed to visit Shishu Park (children’s park) in the city at free of cost.
Good diet was served in jails, hospitals, orphanages and vagrant homes across the country.
Besides, main thoroughfares and road islands in the capital have been decorated with the national flag and important government buildings have been illuminated.
The ruling Awami League and the opposition BNP chalked out various programmes including holding of discussion meetings.
The AL programmes were also include paying tribute to the portrait of the father of the national at Bangabandhu Bhaban, offering munajat and milad mahfil at the mazar of Bangabandhu at Tungipara in Gopalganj.
AL leaders and activists and its other front organizations gathered in processions at the historic place of Shaheed Suhrawardy Udyan where Pakistani occupation forces surrendered to the allied forces of the Indian army and freedom fighters this day. They paid respect at the Shikha Anirban.
The BNP programme was also include placing wrsath at the mazar of BNP founder President Ziaur Rahman at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.
The world’s largest human national flag of Bangladesh was created at the National Parade Ground in the city, marking the Victory Day.
Private mobile phone operator Robi, in partnership with Bangladesh Army, made the ever-largest Bangladesh flag, which will be recorded in the Guinness Book of Records.
The incredible attempt started at 1:36pm with 27,117 volunteers helping create the flag.
Each person held a coloured placard and the 27,117 people collectively created the largest flag in the world to shatter a standing Guinness World Record. – Staff Reporter
