Bangladesh celebrated the 53rd Victory Day on Saturday recalling the supreme sacrifices made by freedom fighters to free the country from the Pakistani occupation forces during the War of Independence.
The government, political parties, socio-cultural organisations, educational institutions, professional bodies and other organisations and institutions held various programmes, including discussions, rallies, processions and cultural events, across the country to celebrate the day.
The day was also celebrated in Bangladesh missions in abroad.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin and prime minister Sheikh Hasina paid tributes to the martyrs of the War of Independence, placing wreaths at the National Memorial in Savar, on the outskirts of the capital at the dawn.
They were followed by freedom fighters and their families, leaders of the ruling Awami League and different political and social organisations and people from all walks of life.
Later, foreign diplomats, leaders of several organisations and people from all walks of life placed wreaths to pay homage to the martyrs.
The celebration of the 53rd Victory Day came at a time when Bangladesh was heading towards a general election on January 7 boycotted by major opposition parties, including the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, who are waging a movement for resignation of the government and an election under a non-party caretaker administration.
After placing wreaths at the National Memorial, ruling Awami League general secretary Obaidul
Quader said that the anti-election forces were the main obstacle to democratic politics in Bangladesh.
‘This country is moving forward with a vision, but communalism and extremism are the main obstacles in the country’s advancement and enrichment. The evil forces that have gone against the election are the main obstacles to democratic politics,’ he said.
Different political parties, including the BNP and its associate bodies, Jatiya Party, Ganatantra Mancha, a combine of six political parties, including Ganosamhati Andolan, and Bangladesh Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, have also paid tribute to the freedom fighters placing wreaths at the National Memorial in the morning.
After placing wreaths at the National Memorial, BNP standing committee member Abdul Moyeen Khan told reporters that the results of the January 7 general election was already written by the ruling Awami League.
‘The Election Commission will only announce the results of the election on January 7. So it is not an election,’ said Moyeen.
‘The Election Commission has announced a schedule. This is an election where political parties are sharing seats through open bargaining, it cannot be called democracy.’
BNP standing committee member Begum Selima Rahman, Dhaka district BNP general secretary Nipun Roy, central executive committee member Aminul Islam, Rafiq Sikdar, and BNP and its associate body leaders were also present.
Later in the afternoon, the BNP held a rally and brought out a colourful procession in the capital marking Victory Day.
The Victory Day procession started from the BNP central office at Naya Paltan at about 2:25pm and ended after parading Kakrail, Shantinagar and Malibagh.
Different countries, including the United States and India, greeted the nation marking Victory Day.
India has conveyed warm greetings to the people of Bangladesh marking Bangladesh’s Victory Day, reported the state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha.
‘Warm greetings to FM Dr AK Abdul Momen and the Government and people of Bangladesh on the 52nd Bijoy Dibosh!,’ said Indian external affairs minister S Jaishankar in a message.
The United States also extended greetings to Bangladesh, said the BSS report.
‘Happy Victory Day, Bangladesh,’ said the US embassy in Dhaka in a message.
The US embassy said that they saluted the ‘courage and sacrifice’ of the Bangladeshi people in their quest for independence.
Newspapers published special supplements while Bangladesh Television and other private channels aired special programmes to mark the day.
The day was a public holiday
Special prayers offered at mosques, temples, churches, and pagodas across the country, seeking eternal peace for the departed souls of the martyrs and the peace and prosperity of the nation.
Improved diet was served in prisons, hospitals, old homes and orphanages across the country marking the day.
Bangladesh Shiplakala Academy and other cultural organisations arranged special cultural events to celebrate the day.
