Call to execute penalties of all war crime convicts
The 43rd Victory Day was celebrated on Monday here in the port city in a different atmosphere amid paying homage to the martyrs and colorful programmes.
After 42 years of the victory, this year scenario is bit different as death sentence of a war criminal has been executed only four days ahead of the Victory Day giving the nation another taste of victory. People irrespective of age, sex, and class came out to take part in the Victory Day celebration and gathered at the central Shahid Minar to pay homage to the martyrs. People, especially youths, took part in the programmes wearing red-green clothes, the colour of national flag, with the spirit of War of Liberation.
The proceedings of paying homage at the Shahid Minar started at the zero hours where many political, social, cultural and professional organisations came under their respective banners and offered floral wreaths on the pavement while thousands of people along with their family and friends also paid tribute on their own by offering flowers as symbol of their gratitude to the martyrs.
People taking part in the celebration, besides expressing satisfaction with the execution of death sentence of war criminal Abdul Quader Mollah, demanded execution of the death sentences of all the war criminals soon and a Razakar free Bangladesh. They also demanded ban of the politics of Jamaat-Shibir.
The organisations that offered floral wreaths include city, district and different ward unit of Awami League, Juba League, Chhatra League, Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad Chittagong district council, Ganajagaran Mancha, Ekatturer Ghatok Dalal Nirmul Committee, Chattagram Peshajibi Parishad, Communist Party of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Somajtantrik Dal, Jatiya Somajtantrik Dal, BNP, Chatra Dal, Juba Dal, Chittagong Academy, Bodhon Abritti Parishad, Projonmo 71, Chhatra Union, Somajtantrik Chhatra Front, Moulana Bhashani Foundation, Chittagong Group Theater, and many other organisations. As part of celebrating the victory Chittagong District Administration organised a parade and colorful display at Chittagong MA Aziz Stadium in the morning.
Led by ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, president of city unit of Awami League (AL), and AJM Nasir Uddin, general secretary, AL and its wing organisations under the banner Bijoy Mela Udjapan Parishad brought out a colorful procession from MA Aziz Stadium in the morning. After parading different strategic points the procession ended at Shahid Minar. Different pro-liberation cultural and social organisations also took part in the procession.
City unit of BNP, led by Abdullah Al Noman, vice-chairman of central BNP, and Dr Shahadat Hosen, general secretary of city unit, brought out another victory rally from city BNP office Nasimon Bhaban that also ended at Shahid Minar premises after parading different city streets.
Ganajagaran Mancha, Chittagong, organised daylong cultural and discussion programme at Cheragi Pahar intersection.
Staff Reporter adds from Barisal: People of all strata of life celebrated the 43rd Victory Day in Barisal city on Monday amid fun, festivity and patriotic fervour.
Paying glowing tributes to the 30 lakh people who laid down their lives for the country’s freedom, they made a renewed call at a programme for executing punishments of all those convicted of crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War.
The programme organised by the local administration included discussion, colourful procession and rally.
Barisal City Corporation mayor, lawmakers, high officials of the local administration, leaders of the political parties and socio-cultural organisations placed wreaths at the mass killing ground (Badhaya Bhumi), martyrs monument (Shaheed Smriti Falak) and Central Shaheed Minar early in the morning.
District Muktijoddha Sangsad also accorded a reception to the freedom fighters and family members of the liberation war martyrs on the Muktijoddha Sangsad premises on this occasion. District and city units of the ruling Awami League and opposition BNP brought out Bijoy Michhil (Victory procession) from the Sadar Road area of the city, which paraded the main thoroughfares of the city.
March past and acrobatic shows wee held at Bangabangdhu Udayan in the morning. There took place juvenile painting and patriotic song competitions at Barisal Shishu Academy at noon. A friendly football match was held in the afternoon.
-With The Independent input
