Nation celebrates 38th Victory Day

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The nation Tuesday celebrated the 38th Victory Day, commemorating the country's victory against the Pakistani occupation forces amid renewed calls for translating into reality the dreams of the 1971 martyrs and the freedom loving people, reports BSS.
Army bugles played the last post, as President Professor Iajuddin Ahmed and Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed paid glowing tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War by placing wreaths at the National Memorial at Savar, while the day's celebrations began with a 21-gun salute after midnight.
Tens of thousands of people including politicians followed them with wreaths at the memorial to mark the Victory Day, recalling the surrendering of the Pakistani troops 38 years ago after a nine-month bloody war, fought by the Bangalees with Indian support.
Former prime ministers, Awami League President Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, joined the thousands in paying tributes to the martyrs at the memorial.
The national flags dominated across the country's skyline, as social, political and other organisations arranged various programmes to mark the occasion.
In one of the day's major programmes, the surviving 1971 war veterans joined a rally at the Suhrawardy Udyan, as the Sectors Commanders Forum staged a symbolic reproduction of the surrendering ceremony of the occupation army at the same venue 38 years ago.
Bangladesh for the first time this year sent three in-service military officers to India to join their victory day celebrations at Kolkata in West Bengal.
Major General Muhammed Maswood is leading the three-member delegation comprising an airforce officer and a navy officer, while 1971 war veteran Maj Gen (retd) Jamil D Ahsan Bir Protik is joining the celebrations at the Fort William along with another team of 14 freedom fighters.
Special prayers were offered at mosques, temples, churches and other places of worship, seeking divine blessings for the peace and progress of the country.
The President and his wife Professor Anwara Begum hosted a reception at Bangabhaban in the afternoon in honour of the freedom fighters. It was also joined by the Chief Adviser and his wife Neena Ahmed along with the 1971 war veterans.