Bangladesh celebrates victory over Pakistan 44 years ago

By

Sheuli Akter

Bangaldesh yesterday celebrated its 45th victory day which fell on December 16th.

The day was observed with due solemnity as rich tributes were paid to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the nine month Liberation War of 1971 for the long cherished independence of the homeland.

At the outset of the day President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina met at the National Mausoleum in Savar on the outskirts of capital Dhaka.

The day, which is a public holiday, here commenced with a 31-gun salute.

Both President Hamid and PM Hasina later attended a colorful parade at the National Parade Square. As a chief guest president Abdul Hamid took the salute from the armed forces at the parade.

People from all walks of life took to the streets to celebrate victory day and join programs arranged by various organisations.

Discussions, rallies, processions, dramas and Jatras (folk theatre), photo exhibitions, painting competitions and cultural functions were arranged in parts of Dhaka and elsewhere in the country as part of celebrating victory day.

Bangladesh, under ther leadership of founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, won victory on December 16, 1971 as Pakistan Army of 93,000 soldiers were forced to surrender.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ruling Bangladesh Awami League party stated that some 3 million people were killed by the Pakistani occupation forces and that over 300,000 women fell victim to torture, including rape.

Sheuli Akter

Sheuli Akter, from Bangladesh, is a Special Correspondent and Editor of NsNewsWire, (Bangladesh’s First Press Newswire).  Previously she had worked for Bangladesh’ top news agency, United News of Bangladesh (UNB) and top newspaper (now defunct) The Bangladesh Observer. She also gained an honourable mention in the first ever World Media Summit WMS Awards for ‘Exemplary News Professionals in Developing Countries’, receiving the award in Beijing in January 2015.