Nation celebrates Victory Day today
The nation is set to celebrate the 48th Victory Day today, marking the most precious day when the country was liberated from the Pakistani occupation forces after a nine-month war.
On this day in 1971, Bangladesh was born as an independent country under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and for the supreme sacrifice of three million people and the honour of hundreds of thousands of women.
Last year, the celebration reached new heights, following Unesco's recognition of Bangabandhu's historic March 7 Speech as part of the world's documentary heritage.
Unesco on October 30 announced the prestigious acknowledgement to one of the world's most glorious speeches, through which Bangabandhu effectively declared the country's independence during a mammoth public rally on Ramna Racecourse ground (now Suhrawardy Udyan) in Dhaka on March 7, 1971.
The speech provided inspiration to the Bangalee nation in their quest for freedom and energised freedom fighters in freeing the country.
Different socio-political, educational and cultural institutions and organisations have chalked out a series of programmes to celebrate the nation's glorious victory.
The government has taken elaborate programmes to celebrate the day at national level as well.
The day will start with 31 gun salutes. President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will pay tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War by placing wreaths at National Memorial in Savar with the rise of the sun.
They will be followed by freedom fighters and their family members, foreign diplomats, leaders of different political and social organisations, as well as people from all walks of life.
The prime minister will pay tribute to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing wreath at the portrait of the father of the nation in front of Bangabandhu Bhaban on Dhanmondi-32 in Dhaka.
AL and its associate bodies, different educational institutes and socio-cultural and professional organisations will also pay homage to the supreme leader of the Liberation War by placing garlands at his portrait.
The day is a public holiday. The national flag will be hoisted atop government, semi-government and private offices as well as offices of autonomous bodies across the country.
Important buildings and establishments will be illuminated at night.
Major roads and road medians will be decorated with miniature national flags and colourful festoons.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have issued separate messages on the occasion.
National dailies are carrying out special supplements marking the day, while state-owned and private televisions and radios are broadcasting month-long special programmes highlighting the significance of the occasion.
Different organisations will hold discussions and screen Liberation War-related documentaries today.
Receptions will be accorded to freedom fighters and family members of martyrs at city, district and upazila levels.
Special prayers will be offered in mosques and other places of worship, seeking eternal peace of the souls of the martyrs and the country's progress and prosperity.
Improved diets will be served in jails, hospitals, orphanages and vagrant homes across the country.
Destitute children will be allowed to visit children's parks and other recreational centres across the country free of cost.
Marking the day, AL will organise two-day programmes. National flag would be hoisted at its central office, Bangabandhu Bhaban and all AL offices across the country with the rise of the sun.
Wreaths would be placed at the National Memorial at 6:34am and at the portrait of Bangabandhu in front of Bangabandhu Bhaban in Dhanmondi.
AL leaders will offer prayers at the grave of Bangabandhu in Tungipara at 10:00am. Special doa and milad mahfil will also be held.
A discussion will be organised at 3:00pm on December 17 at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC). Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will preside over the programme.
Besides, “Bijoy Mancha” (stage of victory) will be built at upazila and district levels across the country from today, where discussions on history of the Liberation War, photo exhibitions, film and documentary screenings, performance of songs on Liberation War and cultural programmes will be held.
Bangladesh missions abroad will observe the day through various programmes.
The Bangladesh High Commission in London has taken elaborate programmes to observe the day in a befitting manner.
“National flag will be hoisted in the morning, while discussion, cultural programme, photo exhibition on the life of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and War of Liberation will be held in the afternoon. Noted personalities and local Bangladeshis will attend the programme, among others,” Md Ashequn Nabi Chowdhury, press minister at the high commission, told the news agency yesterday.