Nation celebrates Victory Day today
Tuesday, 16 December 2008
The nation celebrates the 38th Victory Day today (December 16) commemorating its glorious triumph in the nine-month bloody war against the Pakistani occupation forces through which Bangladesh was liberated this day in 1971, reports UNB.
On the occasion, people will pay rich tribute to the heroic sons of the soil who sacrificed their lives to earn the much-awaited freedom.
The V-day will be celebrated across the country and at its missions abroad with a fresh vow to uphold the spirit of the hard-earned independence and democracy, at a time when the nation is posed for democratic transition from a two-year interregnum since the January 11, 2007 changeover.
On this day in 1971, the chief of the Pakistani occupation forces, general AAK Niazi, along with 93,000 Pakistani troops, surrendered following a miserable defeat to the joint forces of Mukti Bahini and Mitra Bahini, led by general Jagjit Singh Aurora of India, at Ramna Racecourse, now Suhrawardy Udyan, in Dhaka.
In one of the heinous acts of genocide in human history, the Pakistan army and their local collaborators launched a barbarous crackdown killing innocent and unarmed people in the erstwhile East Pakistan at midnight past March 25, 1971.
The nation, under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, finally clinched independence on December 16 after the nine-month-long national liberation war.
The day is a public holiday. The national flag will be hoisted atop all government, semi-government and other important establishments. The day will be heralded by a 31-gun salute at dawn.
People from different social groups and political, cultural, professional and academic organisations and institutions will throng the National Mausoleum in Savar to pay homage to the heroes who embraced martyrdom to liberate the country.
President Iajuddin Ahmed and Chief adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed would lead the nation in placing wreaths at the monument in high tribute to the martyrs.
Tight security measures have been taken all over the country to check any unwanted incident during the celebrations.
Different political, socio-cultural, professional and academic organisations have taken up elaborate programmes to mark the Victory Day.
The President, the Chief Adviser, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and Awami League president Sheikh Hasina gave separate messages on the occasion, calling for the people to work unitedly to build a democratic and prosperous Bangladesh imbued with the spirit of independence.
In his message President Iajuddin Ahmed recalled that the prime objective of the Liberation War was to build up a happy, prosperous and self-reliant Bangladesh.
"Towards this object we have already made some significant achievements in different fields of our national life," he said.
He noted that it was the time to strengthening the democratic process and make it more effective at every stage of national life.
"I believe sincere cooperation and collective efforts from all irrespective of party affiliation are an imperative to make a healthy and noble society," the President said.
In his message the Chief Adviser said, "I offer my deep respects to the sacred memories of innumerable freedom-fighter heroes who had sacrificed their lives for the independence of our beloved motherland."
On the occasion, people will pay rich tribute to the heroic sons of the soil who sacrificed their lives to earn the much-awaited freedom.
The V-day will be celebrated across the country and at its missions abroad with a fresh vow to uphold the spirit of the hard-earned independence and democracy, at a time when the nation is posed for democratic transition from a two-year interregnum since the January 11, 2007 changeover.
On this day in 1971, the chief of the Pakistani occupation forces, general AAK Niazi, along with 93,000 Pakistani troops, surrendered following a miserable defeat to the joint forces of Mukti Bahini and Mitra Bahini, led by general Jagjit Singh Aurora of India, at Ramna Racecourse, now Suhrawardy Udyan, in Dhaka.
In one of the heinous acts of genocide in human history, the Pakistan army and their local collaborators launched a barbarous crackdown killing innocent and unarmed people in the erstwhile East Pakistan at midnight past March 25, 1971.
The nation, under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, finally clinched independence on December 16 after the nine-month-long national liberation war.
The day is a public holiday. The national flag will be hoisted atop all government, semi-government and other important establishments. The day will be heralded by a 31-gun salute at dawn.
People from different social groups and political, cultural, professional and academic organisations and institutions will throng the National Mausoleum in Savar to pay homage to the heroes who embraced martyrdom to liberate the country.
President Iajuddin Ahmed and Chief adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed would lead the nation in placing wreaths at the monument in high tribute to the martyrs.
Tight security measures have been taken all over the country to check any unwanted incident during the celebrations.
Different political, socio-cultural, professional and academic organisations have taken up elaborate programmes to mark the Victory Day.
The President, the Chief Adviser, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and Awami League president Sheikh Hasina gave separate messages on the occasion, calling for the people to work unitedly to build a democratic and prosperous Bangladesh imbued with the spirit of independence.
In his message President Iajuddin Ahmed recalled that the prime objective of the Liberation War was to build up a happy, prosperous and self-reliant Bangladesh.
"Towards this object we have already made some significant achievements in different fields of our national life," he said.
He noted that it was the time to strengthening the democratic process and make it more effective at every stage of national life.
"I believe sincere cooperation and collective efforts from all irrespective of party affiliation are an imperative to make a healthy and noble society," the President said.
In his message the Chief Adviser said, "I offer my deep respects to the sacred memories of innumerable freedom-fighter heroes who had sacrificed their lives for the independence of our beloved motherland."