Staff Reporter :
The nation celebrated the 47th Victory Day on Saturday paying tribute to the freedom fighters who made the supreme sacrifice in the War for Independence in 1971.
On the day, the Pakistani occupation forces surrendered to the joint command of the Bangladesh-India alliance forces at Suhrawardy Udyan [then Race Course Maidan] in Dhaka.
Carrying floral wreaths and holding national flag and banners, hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life thronged the National Memorial at Savar to pay homage to Martyred Freedom Fighters.
The entire memorial area became crowded with people as members of political, socio-cultural and professional organisations and different institutions stood in queue to place wreaths and pay tribute to the Martyred Freedom Fighters.
The day was a public holiday. The day was heralded by a pre-day 31-gun salute at the dawn. The National Flag was hoisted atop all government and semi-government offices, and important private buildings. In fact, this year the Victory Day was celebrated in a different mood as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) on 30 October recognised Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s historic 7 March speech as a World documentary heritage.
President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina had issued separate messages on the occasion.
In the dawn, the President placed a wreath at the altar of the National Memorial and stood there in solemn silence for some time as a mark of respect to the memories of the Liberation War martyrs. He also signed the visitors’ book kept at the Memorial.
After that, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid homage to the martyrs placing wreaths at the National Memorial and stood there in solemn silence for some time showing respect to the memories of the Martyrs.
A smartly turned out contingent drawn from the Army, Navy and Air Force presented a state salute on the occasion when bugles played the last post.
Later, the freedom fighters and their family members, foreign diplomats, leaders of Awami League and different political and socio-cultural organisations and people from all walks of life placed floral wreaths at the Memorial.
A colourful parade was held at the National Parade Square at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar with the participation of Army, Navy, Air Force and other para-military, law enforcement agencies and freedom fighters.
President Abdul Hamid took salute and inspected the parade as the chief guest while Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was also present at the parade.
To pay homage, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also placed a wreath at the portrait of the country’s founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi.
Meanwhile, different political parties, socio-cultural organisations and educational institutions took various programmes to mark the day.
Sheikh Hasina, who is also President of Awami League, flanked by senior leaders of the party laid another wreath at the National Memorial.
Awami League also brought out victory day processions from Suhrawardy Udyan and marched to Dhanmondi 32.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, along with her party’s senior leaders, placed wreaths at the altar of the National Memorial at Savar.
The government and semi-government buildings and other public places were illuminated, and roads and road islands were also decorated with flags and festoons in all cities of the country on the occasion.
Special prayers were offered in mosques, temples, churches, pagodas and other places of worship seeking divine blessings for the peace and progress of the country.
The President accorded a reception to freedom fighters at Bangabhaban in the afternoon.
Bangladesh missions abroad also organised discussions, cultural functions and receptions.
Improved diet was served at orphanages, hospitals and jails across the country. All children parks and museums remained open free of cost.
Newspapers brought out special supplements and television channels and radio stations aired special programmes highlighting the significant of Victory Day.
