Nation celebrates 46th Victory Day [ Tritiyo Matra News ]

Nation celebrates 46th Victory Day

Local December 18, 2016

The nation celebrated the 46th Victory Day on Friday paying tribute to the freedom fighters who made the supreme sacrifice in the War for Independence to free the nation from marauding Pakistani forces in 1971.
People in their thousands poured into the National Memorial at Savar and other memorials across the country holding the green and red national flag to pay homage to martyred freedom fighters.
People also brought out victory procession, held concerts, sang national anthem in chorus and arranged fireworks, photography exhibition and other programmes marking the day.
During the celebrations across the country, people demanded that all war criminals must be identified and brought to justice and social relations with war criminals be severed. People also called for resisting fundamentalism and establishing the rule of law, democracy and secularism.
They renewed the pledge to create a secular and prosperous society free from poverty and inequality.
The Victory Day, a public holiday, was heralded by a pre-day 31-gun salute.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime minister Sheikh Hasina paid tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War by placing wreaths at the National Memorial at Savar at the dawn
The president and the prime minister after placing wreaths at the altar of the memorial stood there in solemn silence for some time as a mark of respect to the memories of the martyrs.
A smartly turned out contingent drawn from Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh Air Force presented a state salute on the occasion when bugles played the last post.
Hasina, flanked by senior leaders of the ruling Awami League, laid another wreath at the memorial as the party chief.
The chief justice, the deputy speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad, ministers Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia, leader of the opposition in parliament Raushan Ershad, the chiefs of the three services, members of parliament, freedom fighters, diplomats and high civil and military officials also paid homage to the martyrs.
No sooner the memorial was opened to all after the state dignitaries left, other political parties and socio-cultural organisations thronged the place which was soon buried under heaps of flowers placed by them. Many brought red and green flags while some wore dresses made with the colour of the flag.
As the day wore on, the whole memorial area became crowded with people of all ages and different political, socio-cultural and professional organisations and different institutions stood in queue at the memorial ground to place wreaths and pay tribute to the freedom fighters.
Khaleda Zia, along with her party’s senior leaders, placed wreaths at the National Memorial altar at about 11:30am.
Foreign liberation war friends from India and Russia, who came to Dhaka this year to join the victory day celebrations, also paid tribute to the liberation war heroes at the National Memorial.
Workers Party of Bangladesh, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Communist Party of Bangladesh, Jatiya Party, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal, Gana Sanghati, Liberal Democratic Party, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh, Democratic Revolutionary Party, Jatiya Party (JP) and others placed wreaths at the memorial.
Almost all youth, student and socio-cultural organisations also placed wreaths paying respect to the martyrs.
President Abdul Hamid took the salute at Victory Day parade led by Bangladesh Army at the National Parade Ground. Prime minister Sheikh Hasina witnessed the colourful parade from the VIP enclosure. The president also hosted a reception at Bangabhaban that was also attended by prime minister.
Commemorative stamps were cancelled by the prime minister
People gathered at Suhrawardy Udyan to sing the national anthem in chorus at 4:31pm when the commander of 93,000 marauding troops of Pakistan army, led by Lieutenant General AAK Niazi, surrendered at the Ramna Race Course, now Suhrawardy Udyan, in Dhaka on December 16, 1971.
The event was jointly organised by the national committee for the 46th Victory Day celebrations, the Sector Commanders’ Forum and a faction of the Ganajagaran Mancha.
Chhayanaut held a dance programme at Dhaka University, Sammilita Sangskritik Jote brought out a procession in the capital and there was a Victory Day programme at Shahbagh. Dhaka University also brought out a victory day procession, TSC-based cultural organisations held a concert and Slogan Ekkattor displayed firecrackers on the campus.
Ruling Awami League brought out victory day processions in Dhaka.
Political parties, cultural and professional organisations and educational institutions held discussions and rallies and brought out processions to celebrate Victory Day.