Bijoy Mela begins in Ctg

CHATTOGRAM, Dec 11: The historic 'Bijoy Mela' (Victory Fair) kicked off on the Chattogram Circuit House ground in the port city on Wednesday. Chattogram divisional commissioner Dr Md Zia Uddin inaugurated the annual fair as the chief guest. Chattogram deputy commissioner Farida Khanam, the convener of the Bijoy Mela Organising Committee, chaired the event.

Ahmed Newaj, member secretary of the committee, delivered a welcome speech at the inaugural function, moderated by executive magistrate Khandkar Farzana Nazneen Setu.

Dr Zia said, "We get a new Bangladesh through the anti-discrimination student movement and we have a strong conviction to build a discrimination-free Bangladesh through highlighting our rich culture and tradition."

Journalists Zahidul Karim Kochi and Mohammad Shah Nawaz, Chattogram City BNP's former general secretary Ekramul Karim and student representative Md Jobber, among others, addressed the function.

'Bijoy Mela' began under the leadership of Faruk-E-Azam Bir Protik and left-leaning political activists in Chattogram in 1989 and later captured by the then city mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury in 1991.

In its early years, Bijoy Mela was organised at the outer stadium of the port city Chattogram with the combined efforts of all socio-political and cultural organisations with intent to present the history of liberation war to the youth.

The fair will continue until December 16.

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