The country today celebrated the 50th Victory Day recalling moments that had marked emergence of Dhaka as the free capital of independent Bangladesh with occupation Pakistani troops’ unconditional surrender.
The ceremonial 31 gun salutes heralded the day as troops fired artillery shots from the National Parade Square while President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid rich tributes to Liberation War Martyrs.
Military secretaries to the President and the Premier placed wreaths on their behalf at the National Memorial at suburban Savar in the early morning ceremony while the COVID 19 prevented their physical presence at the scene.
Armed forces bugles played the last post as the military aides placed the wreaths when as part of military rituals the National Flag was gradually revealed, then lowered to half mast position and then revealed again.
An integrated military, navy and air force contingent offered the honour guard to mark the ceremony.
Parliamentary Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury was represented at the Memorial by Jatiya Sangsad sergeant-at-arms.
Several cabinet members including Liberation War Minister AKM Mozammel Huq, foreign diplomats and senior officials including the chiefs of three armed services offered wreaths at the memorial in person.
Thousands of people representing different political and other organisations then thronged the Memorial’s main altar to offer their floral tributes.
Many people visited the site in their individual capacity though the pandemic required extra cautions, scaling down the usual festivity.
The president and Prime Minister earlier issued statements greeting the countrymen on the occasion of the Victory Day.
“On this day in 1971, we achieved our long-cherished victory after a long struggle and bloodshed war,” President M Abdul Hamid said in his message, recalling particularly Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the architect of the independence alongside the freedom fighters.
The premier in her message recalled the 24 years of struggle in years ahead of 1971 under the leadership of “our great leader, the greatest Bangali of all time, the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman”.
“We admire the sacrifice of millions of martyrs through turning Bangladesh into a developed, prosperous, hunger and poverty-free andnon-communal Bangladesh,” she added.
The pandemic forced Bangladesh this year to scrap the traditional parade at the National parade Ground due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
But the Victory Day this year came with an extra significance as it coincided with Father of the Nation’s birth centenary celebrations, just an year ahead of the golden jubilee of independence.
The government earlier urged the people to celebrate the day maintaining health guidelines against coronavirus while as part of the countrywide celebrations wreaths were placed as well at martyrs monuments.
National flags dominated the skyline across Bangladesh while government, semi-government and other major structures were illuminated with colourful lights.
Main streets were decorated with festoons while the pandemic prompted different government organisations, political parties and cultural groups to stage discussions and other programmes on virtual platforms.
The ruling Awami League (AL) hoisted the national flag and the party flag atop the party’s central office, Bangabandhu Bhaban and offices of all its units across the country.
The other political and socio-cultural organizations that paid rich tributes to the 1971 martyrs by placing wreaths at the National Memorial were Central 14-party, family members of the martyrs, injured freedom fighters, Jatiya Party, BNP, Gana Forum, Jukto Front, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Workers Party of Bangladesh, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Awami Jubo League, Swechasebak League, Chhatra League, Krishak League, Mohila Awami League, Jubo Mohila League, Tanti League, Bangladesh Chhatra Union, Jubo Union, Udichi Shilpigoshthi, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, Dhaka Reporters’ Unity, Samajtantrik Chhatra Front, Dhaka University, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, National University, Bangla Academy, Shilpakala Academy, Bangladesh Open University, Bangabandhu Parishad, Jagannath University, Sector Commanders’ Forum-Muktijuddha 71, Sammilita Sangskritik Jote, Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote, Jaker Party and Muktijuddha Sanghati Parishad.
Posters based on the history of the Liberation War were exhibited at Swadhinotastambha and the underground museum at the Suhrawardy Udyan here today.
Besides, essay competitions based on the Liberation War were held using the digital platforms like e-mail or online while painting competitions for the children and virtual functions were also held at the educational institutions across the country.
Special prayers were offered at mosques and other places of worship, seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of the 1971 martyrs and good health for the injured freedom fighters as well as peace, progress and prosperity of the country.
Baitul Mukarram National Mosque organised Quran Khwani, milad and doa mahfil under the auspicious of Islamic Foundation marking the day.
Improved diets were served in jails, hospitals, orphanages and vagrant homes across the country.
The day was a public holiday.
National dailies brought out special supplements on the occasion while Bangladesh Postal Department released memorial postal stumps to mark the day.
The state-owned and private televisions and radios are broadcasting special programmes highlighting the Liberation War.
