Sagar Biswas :
The nation will celebrate 47th Victory Day today [Saturday] to pay rich tributes to martyrs who had sacrificed lives to free their motherland during the nine-month bloody war against the Pakistani occupation forces in 1971.
This year, the nation will take part in Victory Day programmes amid a jubilant mood as most of the war criminals, especially top ranking leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami, have already been executed for their ‘crimes against humanity’.
Apart from sacrifice of three million people, over two lakh women were brutally tortured and
abused by the Pakistani occupation forces and its associates during the Liberation War.
But Pakistan never expressed sorrow or confessed its guilt. Pakistan is not yet ready to acknowledge the ‘War crimes’ committed by its Army and its associates in 1971.
Besides, the Jamaat-e-Islami and some other Islamist parties of that time actively collaborated with the Pakistan Army, raising paramilitary forces such as Razakar, Al-Badr and Al-Shams, which took part in the genocide.
Family members of martyrs and other organisations have already created pressure on the government to ban Jamaat-e-Islami, confiscate the assets of convicted war criminals and stripping away the voting rights of their family members.
History says, Lieutenant General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, Commanding Officer of Pakistan Armed Forces based in the then East Pakistan, surrendered along with 93,000 troops to the Joint Commander of Indian and Bangladesh Forces Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Aurora at Race Course Maidan [now Suhrawardy Udyan] on December 16 in 1971, ending nine months long Liberation War.
It is the venue from where Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman asked Bangalees to take all out preparations for independence on March 7 in 1971 ahead of his final proclamation of independence of Bangladesh on March 25 night just before his arrest by Pakistani military.
History also says, the independent and sovereign Bangladesh, as it stands today, is the outcome of the nine months hard struggle of seven million people [in the then East Pakistan] under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
It is a public holiday today. The day will be heralded with 31-gun salute. The national flag will be hoisted atop of all government, semi- government, private offices and autonomous bodies across the country.
Meanwhile, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in separate statements, greeted the nation on the eve of the Victory Day.
The President and the Prime Minister will pay tributes to the Martyrs of the Liberation War by placing wreaths at the National Mausoleum at Savar early in the morning. Later, the freedom fighters, cabinet members, political leaders, foreign diplomats and people from all walks of life will place wreaths at the mausoleum.
BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia in separate statement also greeted the nation on the eve of the Victory Day.
The government has taken elaborate programmes to observe the day with due respect and festivities. Some important roads and road islands have been decorated with miniature national flags, colourful festoons and digitized banners portraying the memorable moments and the portraits of the national leaders. Important buildings and establishments were also illuminated at night.
Bangladesh Army, Navy, Air Force, Border Guard Bangladesh, Bangladesh Coast Guard, Bangladesh Police, Rapid Action Battalion, Bangladesh National Cadet Core, Bangladesh Ansar and VDP and Freedom Fighters’ Contingent have taken different programmes marking the event.
Victory Day will also be celebrated at all Bangladeshi missions abroad with a fresh vow to uphold the spirit of the hard-earned independence and democracy.
Apart from it, the ruling Awami League, main opposition BNP, Jatiya Party, other political parties and cultural and social organizations also have taken elaborate programmes in observance of the day.
Special prayers will be offered in mosques and other places of worship seeking peace, progress and prosperity for the country. Besides, improved diets will be served in hospitals, jails and orphanages. Children’s parks will remain open on the day.
Newspapers will publish special supplements while Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television and other private channels will air special programmes highlighting the significance of the day.
The nation will celebrate 47th Victory Day today [Saturday] to pay rich tributes to martyrs who had sacrificed lives to free their motherland during the nine-month bloody war against the Pakistani occupation forces in 1971.
This year, the nation will take part in Victory Day programmes amid a jubilant mood as most of the war criminals, especially top ranking leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami, have already been executed for their ‘crimes against humanity’.
Apart from sacrifice of three million people, over two lakh women were brutally tortured and
abused by the Pakistani occupation forces and its associates during the Liberation War.
But Pakistan never expressed sorrow or confessed its guilt. Pakistan is not yet ready to acknowledge the ‘War crimes’ committed by its Army and its associates in 1971.
Besides, the Jamaat-e-Islami and some other Islamist parties of that time actively collaborated with the Pakistan Army, raising paramilitary forces such as Razakar, Al-Badr and Al-Shams, which took part in the genocide.
Family members of martyrs and other organisations have already created pressure on the government to ban Jamaat-e-Islami, confiscate the assets of convicted war criminals and stripping away the voting rights of their family members.
History says, Lieutenant General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, Commanding Officer of Pakistan Armed Forces based in the then East Pakistan, surrendered along with 93,000 troops to the Joint Commander of Indian and Bangladesh Forces Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Aurora at Race Course Maidan [now Suhrawardy Udyan] on December 16 in 1971, ending nine months long Liberation War.
It is the venue from where Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman asked Bangalees to take all out preparations for independence on March 7 in 1971 ahead of his final proclamation of independence of Bangladesh on March 25 night just before his arrest by Pakistani military.
History also says, the independent and sovereign Bangladesh, as it stands today, is the outcome of the nine months hard struggle of seven million people [in the then East Pakistan] under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
It is a public holiday today. The day will be heralded with 31-gun salute. The national flag will be hoisted atop of all government, semi- government, private offices and autonomous bodies across the country.
Meanwhile, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in separate statements, greeted the nation on the eve of the Victory Day.
The President and the Prime Minister will pay tributes to the Martyrs of the Liberation War by placing wreaths at the National Mausoleum at Savar early in the morning. Later, the freedom fighters, cabinet members, political leaders, foreign diplomats and people from all walks of life will place wreaths at the mausoleum.
BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia in separate statement also greeted the nation on the eve of the Victory Day.
The government has taken elaborate programmes to observe the day with due respect and festivities. Some important roads and road islands have been decorated with miniature national flags, colourful festoons and digitized banners portraying the memorable moments and the portraits of the national leaders. Important buildings and establishments were also illuminated at night.
Bangladesh Army, Navy, Air Force, Border Guard Bangladesh, Bangladesh Coast Guard, Bangladesh Police, Rapid Action Battalion, Bangladesh National Cadet Core, Bangladesh Ansar and VDP and Freedom Fighters’ Contingent have taken different programmes marking the event.
Victory Day will also be celebrated at all Bangladeshi missions abroad with a fresh vow to uphold the spirit of the hard-earned independence and democracy.
Apart from it, the ruling Awami League, main opposition BNP, Jatiya Party, other political parties and cultural and social organizations also have taken elaborate programmes in observance of the day.
Special prayers will be offered in mosques and other places of worship seeking peace, progress and prosperity for the country. Besides, improved diets will be served in hospitals, jails and orphanages. Children’s parks will remain open on the day.
Newspapers will publish special supplements while Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television and other private channels will air special programmes highlighting the significance of the day.
