Staff Reporter :
Bangladesh celebrated its 55th Victory Day on Tuesday with solemn respect and festive enthusiasm, honouring the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War and remembering the historic triumph achieved 54 years ago through immense sacrifice and struggle.
On December 16, 1971, the nation attained victory over Pakistani occupation forces, at the cost of the lives of three million martyrs and the dignity of more than two lakh mothers and sisters.
The day’s programmes began in the morning with a 31-gun salute in the capital. At dawn, the national flag was hoisted atop all government, semi-government, autonomous and private institutions across the country, as well as at Bangladesh missions abroad.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus paid their respects to the Liberation War martyrs by placing wreaths at the National Memorial in Savar early in the morning.
Later, families of the Bir Shreshthas, war-wounded freedom fighters and valiant freedom fighters, led by the Liberation War Affairs Adviser, laid wreaths at the memorial.
Members of the Advisory Council, senior state officials and foreign diplomats subsequently paid floral tributes at the main altar.
The National Memorial was later opened to the public, enabling leaders and activists of political, social and cultural organisations, along with students from various public and private universities, to pay homage in an orderly manner.
From early morning, people from all walks of life gathered at the memorial to honour the nation’s brave sons, transforming the altar into a vast sea of flowers.
Political parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the National Citizen Party (NCP), also paid tribute to the martyrs.
In the evening, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus addressed the nation, stressing the importance of safeguarding the youth and ensuring a peaceful, festive and inclusive election through collective efforts to build a new Bangladesh, while resisting what he termed ill attempts by defeated fascist and terrorist forces.
Victory Day was observed as a public holiday. On the eve of the occasion, both the president and the chief adviser issued separate messages paying homage to the martyrs of the Liberation War.
To mark the day, major roads, road islands and key establishments in Dhaka and other cities were adorned with banners, festoons and colourful flags, while important buildings were illuminated.
The government arranged a variety of programmes, including a three-day victory fair, parachuting displays featuring the highest number of national flags, band and acrobatic performances, cultural events, and recitation, essay-writing and painting competitions for children centred on the Liberation War.
On Sunday, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus also unveiled a commemorative postage stamp, along with an opening day cover and a canceller, at a ceremony held at the State Guest House Jamuna.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin and his wife Dr Rebeka Sultana hosted a reception at Bangabhaban on Tuesday evening in celebration of the 55th Victory Day.
A total of 7,218 guests—including 266 freedom fighters and family members of Bir Shreshtha gallantry award recipients—attended the reception held on the green lawn of the President House.
Among the guests were Chief Justice Syed Refaat Hassan, Liberation War Affairs Adviser Farooq-e-Azam, Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, ambassadors and high commissioners of various countries, Supreme Court judges, the chiefs of the three armed services, senior political leaders, academics, business leaders, artistes, eminent citizens, journalists, and civil and military officials.
President Shahabuddin, along with the chief justice, the Liberation War Affairs adviser, the CEC and the service chiefs, cut a cake at the VVIP enclosure to mark the occasion.
Similar receptions were organised for freedom fighters and families of martyrs at metropolitan, district and upazila levels across the country.
To commemorate Victory Day, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting published special supplements, while Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and other TV channels and radio stations aired special programmes highlighting the history and spirit of the Liberation War.
Cinema halls nationwide screened Liberation War-based films free of charge for students, while documentaries on the war were shown at auditoriums and open venues across the country.
On the occasion, the armed forces staged an impressive fly-past, para-jumping and special aerobatic display at the National Parade Square in Tejgaon.
The event, organised under the supervision of the armed forces with support from the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, added grandeur to the celebrations of December 16.
Marking the 54th anniversary of Victory, a total of 54 paratroopers—including Bangladesh Investment Development Authority Chairman Chowdhury Ashikur Rahman and 53 members of the armed forces—performed free-fall jumps while carrying the national flag.
The chief adviser, service chiefs, members of the Advisory Council and other distinguished guests enjoyed the display from the parade ground.
Dhaka University also observed Victory Day on Tuesday with a series of programmes throughout the day.
The celebrations began with the hoisting of the national flag at dawn at the vice-chancellor’s building and other prominent campus structures, followed by a gathering at Smriti Chirantan Square and wreath-laying at the National Memorial in Savar.
