STAFF REPORTER
The nation celebrated the 45th Victory Day yesterday with a vow to impose a ban on the politics of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, a platform of war criminals who committed crimes against humanity during the country’s Liberation War in 1971.The celebration of the Victory Day began through paying rich tributes to the three million martyrs for their supreme sacrifice for the country during the War of Liberation with an aim to establishing a non-communal, prosperous and democratic Bangladesh.
On this day in 1971 Pakistani occupation forces chief general AAK Niazi along with 93,000 troops surrendered to the joint forces of Mukti Bahini and Mitra Bahini at the historic Rescourse ground now Suhrawardi Udyan in the capital.
With the started of the victory day, thousands of people irrespective of age, gender and class headed towards nearby memorials and mausoleums built in the memory of Liberation War martyrs across the country.
National flags were flying everywhere across the country. Colours of Victory Day were in the air. Loudspeakers were blaring out patriotic songs in narrow alleys and besides the thoroughfares.
However, large gathering of people of walks of life with flags of green and red in their hands and some tying those around their foreheads was seen at the National Memorial in Savar, to pay their rich tributes to the martyrs who laid down their lives for Bangladesh.
Vowing to uphold the spirit of the Liberation War, they demanded that the ongoing war crimes trials should be carried out to try all war criminals in a bid to help the nation get rid of the stigma.
Meanwhile, the day started with 31-gun salute. The President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid tributes to the martyrs of the War of Liberation by placing wreath at the National Memorial at Savar in the early hours.
Marking the day, a colorful parade was held at the National Parade Square in the Old Airport area at 10:30am with the participation of valiant freedom fighters, armed forces and law enforcers.
The President attended the function as the chief guest and took salute at the parade. The Prime Minister attended the function as special guest.
The day is a public holiday. The National Flag was hoisted atop all government, semi-government and private offices as well as offices of autonomous bodies across the country.
Important buildings and establishments were illuminated at night. Important roads and road islands were decorated with miniature national flags, colourful festoons and digitized banners portraying the memorable moments of the nation’s victory in the War of Liberation.
Meanwhile, President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have issued separate messages on the occasion.
The state-owned and private televisions and radios are broadcasting month-long special programmes highlighting the War of Liberation.
Different political, socio-cultural organizations including Awami League, its associate bodies and like minded organizations, Shilpakala Academy, Bangladesh Shishu Academy are organizing discussions and screening Liberation War related documentary films while the postal department released commemorative stamps on the day.
On the occasion, the Awami League paid rich tributes to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing wreath at the sculpture of Bangabandhu at Dhanmondhi.
AL President Sheikh Hasina placed wreath there at about 7:40am. Later, some associate bodies and like-minded orgnisations placed wreaths there on the occasion, BSS reports add.
