Victory Day tomorrow
Members of the Bangladesh Armed Forces rehearse for the guard of honour, scheduled for tomorrow marking Victory Day, at the National Mausoleum in Savar yesterday. Photo: Anisur Rahman
The nation will celebrate the 41st anniversary of victory over the Pakistani occupation forces tomorrow with a call for hastening the war crimes trial and upholding the spirit of independence. On the day in 1971, the nation achieved victory after a bloody nine-month-long Liberation War. General AAK Niazi, who commanded the Pakistani occupation forces, surrendered to the allied forces of Bangladeshi freedom fighters and Indian forces at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka with 93,000 soldiers. Three million people sacrificed their lives for the freedom while two lakh women fell victim to physical torture including rape by the occupation forces and their local collaborators like the Razakars, Al-Badar, and Al-Shams. The day, a public holiday, will be heralded by a 31-gun salute while the Bangladesh flag will be hoisted atop government, semi-government, and autonomous offices. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will place a wreath at the National Memorial in Savar at dawn followed by other political, social and cultural organisations and individuals. The army, navy, air force, BGB, police, Ansar-VDP and fire service will stage a special parade at the National Parade Ground at 10:00am. Their bands will perform at important places in Dhaka. Ships of the navy and Bangladesh Coast Guard in Chittagong, Khulna, Mongla, Sadarghat, Pagla, Narayanganj and Barisal will remain open for visitors from 2:00pm till sunset, says a press release. Socio-cultural bodies, including Bangla Academy, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and Sammilito Sangskritik Jote, chalked out elaborate programmes, says press releases. President Zillur Rahman, the prime minister and leader of the opposition Khaleda Zia, in separate messages, greeted the countrymen, reports BSS.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments