The people celebrate the 40th Victory Day today, when the nation triumphed in the nine-month War of Independence against the Pakistani occupation forces and their local collaborators in 1971.
The celebrants will also demand rule of law, institutionalisation of democracy and completion of the war crimes trial.
All the preparations have been made to pay tributes to the valiant sons of the soil who laid down their lives for the country’s independence.
A 31-gun salute at dawn will herald the day in the old airport, and the bands of the army, navy and air force will play patriotic tunes in Crescent Lake, Farm Gate and Mirpur Stadium between 2:00pm and 4:00pm.
In one of the worst acts of genocide in human history, the Pakistan army and their local collaborators launched a barbarous crackdown, killing the innocent and the unarmed in the erstwhile East Pakistan at midnight in 25 March, 1971.
The Jamaat-e-Islami and some other Islamist political parties of the time actively collaborated with the Pakistani forces, raising paramilitary forces such as Razakar, Al-Badr and Al-Shams which took part in the genocide.
This day in 1971, the chief of the Pakistani forces, General AAK Niazi, along with 93,000 troops, surrendered to the allied forces led by General Jagjit Singh Aurora of India in the Ramna Race Course, now Suhrawardy Udyan, in Dhaka after their defeat in the war.
People from all walks of life will throng the National Martyrs’ Memorial at Savar to pay homage to the heroes who embraced martyrdom to liberate Bangladesh.
The president, Zillur Rahman, the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, leader of the opposition in Parliament and the BNP’s chairperson, Khaleda Zia, and other political leaders issued messages on the occasion, calling on the people to work together to build a democratic and prosperous Bangladesh imbued with the spirit of independence. The president will place flowers on the National Martyrs’ Memorial at sunrise.
The president will also take the salute of the national day ceremonial parade at the National Parade Square. Various ministries, the armed forces, paramilitary forces, Fire Service and Civil Defence and freedom-fighters will join the parade.
Traffic, except for the invited vehicles, will not be allowed on the roads passing the area around the National Parade Ground between 7:00am and 12:30pm on Thursday, said a hand-out by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police on Tuesday.
President Zillur, in his message, said that one of the main objectives of the War of Liberation was to achieve political sovereignty, economic self-sufficiency and to build a nation based on equality and equity. ‘But the country could not attain those objectives even after four decades of independence,’ he added.
Zillur pointed out that the anti-liberation forces as well as the vested interests tried to hamstring democracy and prevent development by killing Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of the nation.
‘Our democratic advancement was jeopardized afterwards by the absence of a people’s government. As a result, we lag far behind in development. A democratic government has finally been established in the country and has taken various initiatives for the welfare of the people,’ he said.
Hasina, in her message, urged all, irrespective of party affiliation, opinion, class, caste and creed, to work together for building a happy and prosperous country.
She said the nation, which earned its independence through a bloodbath, re-established democracy and rights of the people after a long struggle and immeasurable sacrifices.
‘Time has now come to reach the fruits of the freedom struggle to the country’s each household. Our government has been working relentlessly to fulfil the aspirations of the people,’ the prime minister said.
She said her government had already established the rule of law and human rights and executed the death sentence of the ‘self-confessed killers of Bangabandhu’.
‘We are hopeful that the trial of the war criminals and all killings, including the killings of the four national leaders inside the jail, will soon be held,’ she said.
In her message, Khaleda paid tributes to all war heroes and martyrs. ‘Although the country was freed from foes in 1971, hegemonic forces are still conspiring to destroy our independence and sovereignty. And some quarters in our country are assisting them in implementing the blueprint of the evil axis.’
She also called for the forging of national unity to protect the country’s freedom and sovereignty.
The national flag will be hoisted atop all government buildings across the country. Important buildings of the armed forces will be illuminated in the evening.
The ruling Awami League will place wreaths at the National Martyrs’ Memorial and before the mural of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Bangabandhu Bhaban in the morning, and will bring out a victory procession from Shikha Chirantan in Suhrawardy Uddyan at 3:00pm. A discussion meeting will also be held at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre at 3:00pm in which AL chief Sheikh Hasina will be the chief guest.
Khaleda Zia will place wreaths at the National Martyrs’ Memorial at 7:30am. The BNP will bring out a victory procession in the afternoon from the party’s central office in Naya Paltan.
The Sector Commanders Forum will celebrate the moment of the signing of the surrender document by General Niazi at Shikha Chirantan at 3:40pm.
The Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal will place floral wreaths at the National Martyrs’ Memorial in the morning, along with the Samajtantrik Chhatra Front and the Samajtantrik Sramik Front.
The Sammilita Sangskritik Jote will bring out a procession from the Central Shaheed Minar at 10:00am.
The Liberation War Museum will hold a daylong cultural programme for children in its premises.
The Muktijoddha Oikya Parishad will place wreaths at the National Martyrs’ Memorial, Bangabandhu Bhaban and Shikha Chirantan.
The Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts will begin a three-day art camp, Bijay Dibas Chitramela, at Bengal Centre.
The Liberation War Museum will conclude its Bijoy Mela in its premises with cultural programmes.
The Bangladesh Medical Association will place floral wreaths at the National Martyrs’ Memorial at 8:00am. The Bangabandhu Sangsritik Jote will hold a rally at Shikha Chirantan at 4:30pm and light candles in memory of the martyrs. The Swadhinata Academy will hold the Bangabandhu Book Fair at the Central Public Library.
Eight Dhaka University-based socio-cultural organisations are holding a three-day festival called ‘Rakte Ranga Bijoy Amar’. Fireworks will mark the first hours of victory at the Dhaka University Teachers-Students Centre.
The Nazrul Academy will hold a discussion in its auditorium at 6:00pm.
The Ganamuktir Ganer Dal will also stage a musical programme in Dhaka University Battala at 3:00pm.
The Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy has been holding a Bijoy Mela since December 1 which will be concluded in its premises today.
The Islamic Movement Bangladesh will hold a discussion meeting at 3:00pm in its office.
The Dhaka College held a discussion on Wednesday in its auditorium where the Jatiya Sangsad’s speaker, Abdul Hamid, laid stress on the necessity to practice true democracy to achieve the goals of the War of Independence.
