Vow to repay blood debt
The national flag was flying everywhere. Colours of Victory Day were in the air. Loudspeakers were blaring out patriotic songs in narrow alleys and besides the thoroughfares.
As the sunlight spread over the horizon in the foggy morning, thousands of people irrespective of age, gender and class headed towards nearby memorials and mausoleums built in the memory of Liberation War martyrs across the country.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. It was the day in 1971 Pakistani occupation forces chief general AAK Niazi along with 93,000 troops surrendered to the joint forces of Mukti Bahini and Mitra Bahini in Dhaka.
The celebration of the 44th Victory Day began through paying homage to the national heroes with a vow to establish a non-communal, prosperous and democratic Bangladesh.
A large gathering -- some with flags of green and red in their hands and some tying those around their foreheads -- was seen at the National Memorial in Savar, which symbolises the valour and sacrifice of the martyrs who laid down their lives for the emancipation of the nation.
Determined to uphold the spirit of the Liberation War, they demanded that the ongoing war crimes trial be expedited and verdicts of the International Crimes Tribunal be executed soon to help the nation get rid of the stigma.
Not only the culprits but also the organisations that had links with wartime offences must be brought to book, they said.
Many of them expressed dissatisfaction because, they said, the country did not progress as much as it should have in the last 43 years, mainly due to political instability, deep-rooted corruption and lack of farsightedness among policymakers.
They urged all political parties to bridge the gaps between them and work together to tap the true potential of the country.
On March 26 1971, the then East Pakistan proclaimed its independence in the aftermath of West Pakistan armed forces' genocidal wrath on Bangalees the night before. The Pakistan army with the help of its local collaborators -- Razakars, Al-Badr and Al-Shams -- carried out a barbarous crackdown on the innocent people of East Pakistan at midnight.
The nation under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman fought a nine-month war and finally earned independence on December 16.
The day began with a 31-gun salute, followed by rich tributes by President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the National Mausoleum.
Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain, Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Raushan Ershad, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, cabinet members, diplomats, freedom fighters, eminent personalities, political leaders and senior civil and military officials paid tributes there.
At the mausoleum, Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad said, “I have always demanded the trial of Jamaat ... because those, who had committed crimes [in 1971], should be tried.”
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon said an amendment to the relevant law was underway to try the Jamaat-e-Islami as an organisation for its role during the war, while Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu said the government would complete the war crimes trial, defying any international pressure.
Driven by its deep political conviction that Pakistan should remain united, Jamaat fought tooth and nail to thwart the birth of Bangladesh. The International Crimes Tribunal-1 in its verdicts has termed the party as “criminal organisation”.
Sector Commanders' Forum Chairman Maj Gen (retd) KM Shafiullah Bir Uttam at a programme in the capital voiced his demand for quick execution of the war crimes verdicts.
Meanwhile, President Hamid took salute and inspected parade marking Victory Day at the National Parade Square in the capital, reports BSS.
Hasina attended the parade at the National Parade Ground organised and conducted by ninth Infantry Division of Bangladesh Army. Thousands of people from all walks of life witnessed the spectacular two-hour parade.
Hasina also paid rich tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by laying a wreath at his portrait in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in the capital yesterday morning, reports BSS.
The day was a public holiday. The government and various political, social and cultural organisations and educational institutions organised elaborate programmes, including discussion, rally, procession, drama and Jatra (folk theatre), photo exhibition, painting competition and cultural function.
Parts of the capital wore a festive look on the day. Many buildings were illuminated. Special prayers were offered at mosques, temples, churches and other religious institutions, seeking divine blessings for peace and progress of the country.
State-run Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar along with private TV channels and radio stations broadcast special programmes while the newspapers brought out special supplements.
Bangladesh missions abroad also celebrated the day with similar programmes.
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