The nation celebrated the 53rd Victory Day on Saturday amid festivity, paying homage to three million martyrs and Valiant Freedom Fighters of the Liberation War with the pledge of establishing the Golden Bengal as dreamt by the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and defending the country from the clutches of the anti-liberation forces.
It was a public holiday. Different political parties, social and cultural organizations celebrated various programmes marking the day including victory rallies, cultural programmes and discussion meetings.
The nation celebrated the Victory Day as the country was liberated from the Pakistani occupation forces on that day 52 years back, in 1971, after a nine-month-long bloodstained War of Liberation.
On December 16 in 1971, Bangladesh was born as an independent country under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid tributes to the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War by placing wreaths at the National Memorial in Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka, marking the day.
Later, the Prime Minister also paid rich tributes to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing a wreath at his portrait at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in Dhanmondi in the capital.
Millions of people from different corners have gathered at the National Memorial in Savar and placed wreaths in honour of the martyrs of the War of Liberation.
Bangladesh missions abroad also placed wreaths at makeshift memorials while the missions of different countries in Bangladesh have also observed the day with due respect by placing wreaths to the National Memorial in Savar.
Islamic Foundation Bangladesh has offered special prayers marking the day at Baitual Mukarram National Mosque and other mosques across the country have also offered special prayers.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin and his wife Dr Rebecca Sultana hosted a reception at Bangabhaban at Saturday evening marking the day. Dignitaries from different corners including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan, ministers, Parliament Members (MP) and other dignitaries from teachers, journalists and bureaucrats joined the reception on the lawn of the Bangabhaban.
As many as 20,000 guests were invited to the reception programme, according to Bangabhaban officials.
Cabinet members, advisers, state ministers, ambassadors and high commissioners of different countries, Supreme Court judges, chiefs of the three services, members of parliament, senior political leaders, academics, business community leaders, artists, valiant freedom fighters and families of Bir Shrestha gallantry award recipients and distinguished citizens also attended the reception.
Important buildings and structures have been illuminated. Besides, important roads and road islands in the capital and other cities across the country have also been decorated with national flags and colourful festoons.
National dailies have brought out special supplements highlighting the significance of the day while electronic media will broadcast month-long special programmes based on the Liberation War.
Different, political parties, social and cultural organisations including Bangladesh Awami League, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Bangla Academy, National Museum, Liberation War Museum, and Bangladesh Shishu Academy have organised Liberation War-based discussions, cultural events and drawing, essay and sports competitions for children and display Liberation War-related documentaries.
On the occasion of Victory Day, a discussion titled Upholding the spirit of the Liberation War and best use of digital technology in building the Sonar Bangla as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was held at the national, district and upazila levels across the country.
Receptions were hosted for freedom fighters and family members of martyrs at the city, district and upazila levels.
Special prayers were also offered at mosques and other places of worship, seeking eternal peace for the souls of martyrs of the Liberation War and peace, progress and prosperity of the country.
Improved diet was served in jails, hospitals, orphanages, old-age homes and other similar institutions across the country.
All childrens parks and museums were kept open for all and entrance was free and Liberation War-based films were screened in the cinema halls free of cost across the country.
On the day, a documentary and poster exhibition on the history and heritage of the Liberation War was organized at Swadhinata Stambha and the Underground Museum at Suhrawardy Udyan in the city.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has brought out a victory rally from its Naya Paltan office at Saturday afternoon and it ended at the citys Maghbazar circle.
Earlier on the day, a delegation led by BNP Standing Committee Members Abdul Moyeen Khan and Nazrul Islam Khan placed wreath at the National Memorial in Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka, along with party leaders and activists.
According to an AL press release, Bangladesh Awami League will hold a discussion meeting at Bangabandhu International Convention Center (BICC) in Agargaon on Sunday and a victory rally will be organized on December 18 (Monday) in the city.
As it was a public holiday, most of the people including private and public service holders have gone out for an outing with their family members. They visited the important places, parks, and gardens to enjoy and pass the day with their family members.
While visiting the capital on Saturday morning, a huge gathering of people of all age was seen in the citys parks including Botanical Garden, Dhaka National Zoo in Mirpur, Biman Bahini Jadughar (Air Force Museum) in Agargaon, Military Museum at Bijoy Sharani, Zia Udyan in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Shyamoli Shishu Mela, Suhrawardy Udyan and Ramna Park and Dhaka University area. Some makeshift markets were also seen in the places.
