Victory Day programmes by different organisations

Freedom fighters, eminent personalities, artistes of various organisations, bauls and jubilant youngsters took various stages and capital's streets singing, dancing with spirited rhythms of victory. Photo: ATL Aakash

Sammilito Sangskritik Jote
Marking 41st Victory Day, different organisations and institutions chalked out elaborate programmes at various parts of the capital and across the country. Sammilito Sangskritik Jote (SSJ) brought out a colourful rally from Central Shaheed Minar premises. The rally led by Jote leaders -- Nasiruddin Yousuff, Ramendu Majumdar, Golam Kuddus, Hasan Arif and others --circled different streets of Dhaka University campus and adjacent area. Prior to bringing out the rally, the leaders delivered spirited speeches to bring the war criminals to book. "The nation sincerely awaits the declaration of verdict of at least one war criminal in this month of victory," said Ramendu Majumdar.
The rally, featuring giant replicas of war criminals and justice seeking youths in black uniforms and masks, symbolised speedy trials of war criminals. Tens of thousands of people joined the rally marching forward with the beats of spirited musical rhythms.
This year SSJ is holding victory programmes across the country in a large scale. The inauguration of the month long programmes started at central Shaheed Minar and will come to an end through holding programmes at Ramu, Cox's Bazar on December 29. A number of cultural organisations -- Chhayanaut, Boinhishikha, Dhrubatan, Nataraj, Wrishij Shilpi Goshthi, Prokash, Horbola, Kranti, Swabhumi, Abhyudoy, Srot, Muktodhara took part in everyday programmes giving solo and choral rendition, recitation and dance performances. Several troupes staged street plays at Central Shaheed Minar premises. Films based on Liberation War were also screened at the venues. To speed up the process of war crime trials was reverberated in this year's theme "Rukh-e Darao Porajiter Hungkar, Juddhaporadhir Bichar Hobei Ebar" by SSJ.

Liberation War Museum
Starting from December 10, a weeklong victory festival titled "Manobadhikar Dibosh Thekey Bijoy Dibosh" was held at the premises of Liberation War Museum (LWM) and Jalladkhana Bodhyobhumi Smritipeeth of Mirpur. Noted personalities spoke on a specific theme of Liberation War everyday at the venue. Alongside members of martyred families shared their painful feelings everyday. The audience was moved by the hair-raising tales recounted by the members of martyred families. The family members demanded the speedy trial of war criminals of 1971. Students from several schools and colleges; a number of cultural organisations, theatre troupes and baul troupes performed music, dance, street plays and recitations everyday at LWM premises.
Several Chhayanaut artistes including Iffat Ara Dewan, Laisa Ahmed Lisa and Biman Chandra Biswas rendered two choruses --"Lakho Lakho Shaheed-er" and "Janatar Sangram Cholbei" on December 14. Artistes of "Bodhyobhumir Shontandol" presented choral song while students of YWCA school and college performed dance on the day.
Several organisations --"Society for the Welfare of Autistic Children", "Kalporekha", "Dhrupad Kalakendra" with students of Magnolia International School and UCEP School took part in a cultural programme featuring patriotic numbers, ganosangeet and dance on victory day.

Utse, Bangladesh
To commemorate 41st Victory Day, a three daylong festival set off on December 15 at Dhaka University Central Playground. Utshe, Bangladesh, has organised an innovative festival titled, "Bijoy-e Parbon-e".
Chairperson of "Bijoy-e Parbon-e" Festival Celebration Council and Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University, AAMS Arefin Siddique, inaugurated the festival on December 7 at the venue. The three daylong festival featured "Bijoy Kathon" or victory tales everyday. Valiant Freedom Fighters shared their experiences of the Liberation War. Renowned educationist Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, noted journalist Abed Khan, renowned fashion designer Bibi Russell, first Bangladeshi woman to conquer Everest - Nishat Mojumdar, first Bangladeshi Paralympics Gold medallist in swimming - Shamim, and mountaineer MA Muhit took part in a discussion session on victory day.
A "Bijoy Badya" (victory trumpet) showcasing 41 dhak-dhol circled several streets of the capital yesterday. Painting competition by the children followed. Apart from daylong performances of Bhawaiya, Bhatiali, Lalangeeti and Khyapa Kirtan at Lokoj Mancha (folk stage), Noted artistes and cultural organisations of the country performed songs, recitations and dance at the main stage of the festival.
The three-day programmes has also showcased traditional lathi khela, ha-doo-doo khela, kabi gaan, pat-er gaan, jari gaan, nagordola, puppet show, gambhira song, snake charmer's show, cock fight, bioscope, monkey dance, jatra, film screening on Liberation War and artworks display by Ferdousi Priyabhashini. Book stall displaying covers on Liberation War was placed at the venue.
The festival has been titled as "Bijoy-e Parbon-e" because the scheduled time frame of the festival captures Nabanno Utshab (harvest), our glorious victory festival and Poush Parbon (traditional winter cake festival).
A three dimensional map of Bangladesh was anchored in a plate measuring sixty feet in radius where divisional delicacies, sectors with the commanders of Liberation War and division based pitha (cakes) were displayed everyday. The festival will come to an end by releasing phanush( paper lanterns) in the evening today.