The nation celebrates Victory Day

The nation today celebrated the 54th Victory Day, the most precious day of the nation, by paying glowing tributes to 1971 Liberation War martyrs and recalling the glorious history, the nation scripted 53 years back by freeing the soil from long subjugation.

On December 16, 1971, Bangladesh was born as an independent state at the cost of the supreme sacrifices of three million people and the honour of nearly half a million women.

As she holds onto her balloon, this little girl’s smile and the sparkle in her eyes embodies the spirit of Victory Day. In red and green, she was out with her parents to celebrate the occassion in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi area yesterday. Photo: Prabir Das

Marking the day, President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus paid homage to the martyrs by placing wreaths at the National Memorial at Savar this morning.

The president laid the wreath at the altar of the National Memorial with the rise of the sun at 6:34am followed by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus.

He was accompanied by his Timor-Leste counterpart who also paid rich tributes to the martyrs by placing wreaths at the National Memorial.

A contingent drawn from the Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force presented the state salute on the occasion.

Injured valiant freedom fighters and their family members, advisers to the interim government, foreign diplomats, invited guests and high-ranking civil and military officials were present on the occasion.

After paying tributes to the war heroes, the president, also a valiant freedom fighter, exchanged greetings with the injured freedom fighters and their family members.

When the president and the chief adviser left the National Memorial premises, people of all strata were allowed to pay their tributes to the 1971 martyrs by placing wreaths.