The Armed Forces Day will be observed today (Thursday) amid festivity and enthusiasm marking the establishment of the army, navy and air forces during the 1971 Liberation War.
The day's programmes will begin with offering special dua after Fajr prayers at mosques in all the cantonments, naval and air force bases in the country seeking divine blessings for martyred members of the armed forces in 1971 and the well-being and prosperity of the nation and the armed forces, said an ISPR press release in Dhaka on Wednesday.
To mark the day, President Mohammed Shahabuddin, also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and Chief Adviser of the interim government Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus delivered separate messages.
The president and the chief adviser will place wreaths at the Shikha Anirban (Flame Eternal) at Dhaka Cantonment in the morning.
Later, Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Nazmul Hassan and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan will also lay wreaths at the Shikha Anirban on behalf of their respective forces.
The chief adviser will exchange pleasantries and have courtesy meeting with the chiefs of the three services at his Armed Forces Division's office in Dhaka Cantonment. The chiefs of the three services later will have courtesy call-on with the President at Bangabhaban on the day.
On the occasion, the chief adviser will accord a reception to the selected gallantry award winning valiant Freedom Fighters and their family members at Army Multipurpose Complex in Dhaka Cantonment.
He will also distribute souvenir and exchange greetings with the gallantry award winning war veterans at that time.
Adviser of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, Chief Adviser's Special Assistant (Defence and National Solidarity Development Affairs), Army Chief, Navy Chief, Air Chief, Principal Secretary to the Chief Adviser, Principal Staff Officer (PSO) of the Armed Forces Division, Defense Secretary, Liberation War Affairs Secretary and high level civil and military officials , among others, will attend the function.
To mark the day, on behalf of the chief adviser, a reception will also be held at Sena Kunja in Dhaka Cantonment at 4pm today.
Chief justice, former presidents, former chief advisers, advisers, foreign diplomats, heads of international organizations, judges, secretaries, former chiefs of the three services, former military officers, Independence Award and Ekushey Award recipients, journalists, academics, political and eminent persons, coordinators of Anti-Discrimination Students Movement and retired officers, among other dignitaries, will join the programme.
After nearly 11 years, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is going to attend the reception at Senakunja on Armed Forces Day this afternoon.
She is scheduled to leave for Senakunja at 3pm from her Gulshan residence, said her private secretary ABM Abdus Sattar.
This will be Khaleda Zia's first participation in a state function since her imprisonment in February 2018. She last attended the reception in 2012.
Earlier, on Tuesday night, the Armed Forces Division of the Chief Adviser's Office invited Khaleda, also a three-time former Prime Minister, to attend the reception at Senakunja.
Chief of General Staff (CGS) Lieutenant General Mizanur Rahman Shamim and Principal Staff Officer (PSO) Lieutenant General ASM Kamrul Ahsan handed over the invitation letter to Khaleda.
BNP media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan said 26 other BNP leaders, including Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and other senior leaders, have also been invited to attend the reception.
Bangladesh Television will live telecast the programme.
Receptions will also be arranged at cantonment or bases at Barishal, Cox's Bazar, Bogura, Sylhet, Ghatail, Chattogram, Cumilla, Jashore, Rangpur and Khulna under the area headquarters.
Various programmes have also been chalked out at different army garrisons, naval and air bases outside Dhaka to mark the day.
Bangladesh Navy will keep its ships open for all visitors from 2 pm until the sun sets at different naval ghats in Dhaka, Khulna, Chandpur, Barishal and Chattogram tomorrow.
A 'Special Anirban' programme illustrating the significance of the day will be telecast on BTV after the news of 8 pm today as the Bangladesh Betar will broadcast a programme "Bishesh Durbar" at 7.30 pm tomorrow.
The special Anirban programme would be telecast later on other television channels gradually.
National dailies will publish special supplements highlighting the significance of the day.
The educational institutions run by armed forces will organize essay and painting competitions marking the Armed Forces Day as well.
