Bangladesh marks 45 years of bloody, stunning victory over Pakistan

Bangladesh is celebrating 45 years of its emergence as a new country on the map of the world on Dec 16, 1971 after nine months of bloodbath.

President Md Abdul Hamid’s Victory Day message has taken pride in the fact that Bangladesh’s journey towards development is being considered a ‘role model’ for the world.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, renewed the resolve to establish ‘Sonar Bangla’ as dreamt by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

BNP Chairperson and former prime minister Khaleda Zia has called for a ‘national unity’ to ‘revive’ democracy in order to rescue the country from the ‘darkness of anarchy’.

The people are remembering the three million martyrs of the Liberation War through a slew of programmes on Friday, the 45th anniversary of the victory over Pakistan.

The national flag will be hoisted at all government and non-government buildings while the National Memorial in Savar and other monuments raised across the country to commemorate the martyrs will be covered with flowers of respect.

A host of organisations will take out victory processions. 

The nation began its armed struggle against the occupation of Pakistani forces on March 26, 1971 and won its victory on Dec 16.

On this day in 1971, Pakistan Army's Lieutenant General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi formally surrendered along with some 93,000 soldiers to Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Aurora, General Officer Commanding in Chief of the allied forces of the Muktibahini and Indian Army, at the Race Course in Dhaka, and the People’s Republic of Bangladesh was born.

India also commemorates the victory as Vijay Diwas.

The pro-liberation social and cultural organisations are calling for ban on the Jamaat-e-Islami, which opposed Bangladesh’s independence and collaborated with the Pakistani occupation forces during the war.

They are also demanding confiscation of the assets of the war criminals in the Victory Day programmes being held since the beginning of the month of victory.

The celebrations of the day will start with a 31-gun salute at National Parade Square in the capital’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.

The next programmes will revolve round the National Memorial in Savar.

The president and the prime minister will lead the nation in paying respect to the martyrs by placing wreaths at the memorial just after sunrise. It will be then be opened to organisations along with individuals.

The Victory Day Parade at by the armed forces will start at 10am in the National Parade Square.

The president will take salute as chief guest at the parade. The prime minister will also be present on the occasion.

People flock to the National Memorial in Savar to pay tribute to the freedom fighters on Victory Day on Wednesday. Photo: mostafigur rahman

The Navy will open all its vessels for public visit.

Important buildings and establishments have been illuminated. Key roads and road islands have already been decorated with national flags and colourful festoons.

Special prayers will be offered in mosques, temples, pagodas and other places of worship seeking peace, progress and prosperity.

Newspapers are publishing special supplements marking the day and televisions and radios, too, will air special programmes.

In his message, President Hamid said the country is now marching towards development and progress and has achieved manifold successes both at home and abroad.

He paid his deepest homage to the valiant freedom fighters, who laid down their lives for the cause of the country's independence.

He expressed gratitude to the organisers and supporters and the people from all strata, who, directly and indirectly, made meaningful contributions to the War of Liberation. He also greeted the citizens living at home and abroad.

On the day of the victory, Prime Minister Hasina paid tribute to Bangabandhu and recalled the contributions of the four national leaders, and three million martyrs, who sacrificed their lives and 200,000 women, who were violated for the cause of independence.

She called upon the people to push forward the march for development and democracy by being imbued with the spirit of the freedom struggle.

Hasina also extended greetings and warm felicitations to the citizens in Bangladesh and beyond.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda, remembering the heroes of the victory with respect, expressed concern over the ‘current situation’.

“The people don’t have civic freedom now...A darkness of frustration, fear and anarchy has covered the democracy-less country,” she said.

She urged the people to unite in the spirit of Liberation War to ‘liberate democracy’.