Nation celebrates 45th Victory Day [ Tritiyo Matra News ]

Nation celebrates 45th Victory Day

Local December 17, 2015

The nation celebrated the 45th Victory Day paying tribute to the freedom fighters who made the supreme sacrifice in the War for Independence to free the nation from marauding Pakistani forces.
During the celebrations across the country, people demanded identifying all war criminals and completing their trials, 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.
Many also advocated to cut off diplomatic tie with Pakistan and to try 195 Pakistani war criminals sent back to Pakistan.
Thousands of people of all walks of life streamed to the National Memorial at Savar and other memorials across the country holding green and red national flag to pay homage to the martyred freedom fighters.
The Victory Day, a public holiday, was heralded by pre-day 31-gun salute.
President Abdul Hamid and prime minister Sheikh Hasina paid rich tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War by placing wreaths at the National Memorial Wednesday morning.
The president placed a wreath at the altar of the National Memorial and stood there in solemn silence for some time as a mark of respect to the memories of the Liberation War martyrs.
He also signed the visitors’ book kept on the premises of the National Memorial.
Just after the president, prime minister Sheikh Hasina paid homage to the martyrs of the Liberation War by placing wreath at the National Memorial. She too stood there in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound 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.
Sheikh Hasina, flanked by senior leaders of the ruling Awami League, laid another wreath at the National Memorial as the party chief.
The speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad, the chief justice, ministers, Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia, the leader of the opposition in parliament, the chiefs of the three services, members of parliament, freedom fighters, diplomats and high civil and military officials also paid homage.
As the day was on, the whole memorial area became full of people of all ages and different political, socio-cultural and professional organisations and different institutions crowded in queue at the memorial ground to place wreaths and pay tribute to the freedom fighters.
The people were allowed into the hallowed National Memorial ground after the VIPs left.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia along with her party’s senior leaders placed wreaths at the National Memorial altar at about 10:45am.
At least 295 organisations and institutions placed their wreaths at the memorial’s alter between 7:15am and 12:30pm.
Jatiya Party, Jatiya Party (Kazi Zafar), Jatiya Party (Manju), Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal Workers’ Party of Bangladesh, Communist Party of Bangladesh, Biplabi Workers’ Party, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal, National Awami Party-Bhasani, Liberal Democratic Party, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh, Ganatantri Party, Tarikat Federation, Jaker Party, Ganasanghati Andolan, Nagarik Oikya, United Communist League of Bangladesh, Gana Azadi League, Sector Commanders’ Forum- Muktijuddha 71, University Grants Commission, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka University, Jagannath University and Bangla Academy were among the organisations and institutions who placed wreaths at the National Memorial.
President Abdul Hamid took the salute at Victory Day parade led by Bangladesh Army at National Parade Ground. Prime minister Sheikh Hasina witnessed the colourful parade from the VIP enclosure.
Many residents of the capital flocked the National Parade Ground to witness the Victory Day parade.
On this day in 1971, the nine-month war for independence ended with the Bengali nation clinching victory against the marauding army of Pakistan.
The war for independence was preceded by 23 years of intense political struggle for democracy, national identity and national liberation.
On December 16, 1971, the commander of 93,000 marauding troops of Pakistan army, Lieutenant General AAK Niazi, surrendered at Ramna Race Course, now Suhrawardy Udyan, in Dhaka.
People gathered at Suhrawardy Udyan to sing the national anthem in chorus at 4:31pm when the occupation army troops of Pakistan led by General Niazi laid down arms on December 16, 1971.
The event was jointly organised by the national committee for the 45th Victory Day celebrations, the Sector Commanders’ Forum and a faction of the Ganajagaran Mancha.
Political parties, cultural and professional organisations and educational institutions held discussions and rallies and brought out processions to celebrate the Victory Day.
Public buildings were illuminated.
Special prayers were offered at mosques, temples, churches and other places of worship for national progress and prosperity.
The green and red national flag will be flown atop all buildings. Special prayers were offered at mosques, temples, churches and other worship places, seeking divine blessings for peace and progress of the country. Improved diet was served at orphanage, hospital and jails across the country.
Commemorative stamps were cancelled by the prime minister. All children parks and museums remain open free of cost.
Newspapers brought out special supplements and television channels and radio stations aired special programmes to mark the Victory Day.
Major political parties and social, cultural and professional organisations and educational institutions are celebrating the day through separate programmes. Ruling Awami League and opposition BNP brought out victory day rallies in the capital.
The government tightened security in the capital and the rest of the country.
The marauding army of Pakistan and its local collaborators committed one of history’s worst genocides in Bangladesh killing countless unarmed Bengalis during in nine months of the War of Independence.
Jamaat-e-Islami and a host of parties opposed to independence collaborated with the occupation army of Pakistan.