V-Day celebrated

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Jubilation overshadowed political turmoil yesterday as the nation celebrated the 35th anniversary of victory in the nine-month Liberation War in 1971.

People from all walks of life paid their homage to the martyred war heroes who made supreme sacrifices for liberating the country from the Pakistan military rulers trampling the rights of the Bangalees, the majority in the then Pakistan.

As the countrymen renewed vow to uphold the spirit of the Liberation War, BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami activists clashed with Awami League (AL) men in Moulvibazar, Pabna, Chittagong, and Mymensingh, leaving at least 82 injured.

The day in 1971 marked the end of the bloody war as the Pakistan troops surrendered to the joint forces headed by Gen Jagjit Singh Aurora at the then Ramna Racecourse, now known as Suhrawardy Udyan.

Aimed at a long-cherished autonomy, the Bangalees’ victory in the War of Independence under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman came at the expense of three million lives.

As the nation saluted the valiant sons of the soil early in the day, the president placed wreaths at national mausoleum at Savar. He stood in silence at the altar for a short while as buglers were playing the last post.

A smart contingent drawn from the military, navy and air force gave the president guard of honour there.

Speaker Jamiruddin Sircar, Chief Justice Syed JR Mudassir Husain, advisers of the caretaker government, Dhaka City Mayor, judges, foreign diplomats and top civil and military officials were present.

Leaders of different political parties, socio-cultural organisations, rights organisation, professional bodies, educational institutions and a wide cross-section of people also placed wreaths at the altar of the mausoleum.

Elaborate programmes were chalked out to observe the day.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, AL President Sheikh Hasina and Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad, accompanied by senior party colleagues, separately laid wreaths at the mausoleum.

Coming after the president, they too stood in silence as a mark of respect for the martyrs.

Sheikh Hasina later placed wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum while Khaleda Zia at the mazar of former president Ziaur Rahman.

The day was heralded by a 31-gun salute at dawn. All government and semi-government offices and public and private buildings hoisted the national flag and special prayers were offered at mosques, temples, churches and other places of worship, seeking divine blessings for peace and progress of the country.

State-run and private televisions and radios aired special programmes while newspapers carried special supplements highlighting the significance of the day and contributions of the common people in the Liberation War.

Main streets and road islands in different cities including Dhaka were decorated with miniature flags and buntings while some government buildings were also illuminated.

Improved diets were served in jails, hospitals, orphanages and vagrant homes on the day.

Thousands of jubilant people thronged the national mausoleum since early morning on the anniversary of the country’s emergence.

After paying homage, President Iajuddin Ahmed attended a colourful rally of children and juveniles staged at Bangabandhu Stadium as part of state-level celebrations. He inaugurated the programme by releasing balloons and hoisting the national flag in the morning.

The president took salute and witnessed spectacular physical displays and exercises by school-goers. A total of 31 schools and institutions participated in the programme.

Addressing the function, he called for a concerted contribution to maintaining the continuity of the constitution and advancing of the democracy for building a prosperous nation.

Urging for united efforts to make the national independence and democracy meaningful, the president observed that the nation is now in a ‘great war’ that is to build a happy and prosperous country, reports UNB.

He hosted a reception at Bangabhaban in the afternoon. Similar reception was accorded to freedom fighters at district and upazila levels.

A weeklong exhibition of military hardware that began Friday at National Parade Square to commemorate the victory against the Pakistanis is on.

Reports said navy ships were kept open for public at Chittagong, Khulna and Mongla ports, Sadarghat in Dhaka, and Narayanganj and Barisal BIWTA jetties.

Bangla Academy and Shilpakala Academy arranged cultural functions on their premises in the afternoon. Bangladesh Shishu Academy arranged cultural function, film exhibition and painting competition.

Bangladesh missions abroad also organised discussions and cultural functions on the occasion.

The AL that chalked out a two-day celebration took out a victory procession from ‘Shikha Chirantan’ in the afternoon that ended at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum. Sheikh Hasina met freedom fighters, artistes of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra and intellectuals at Sudha Sadan office in the morning.

BNP took up elaborate programmes to celebrate the occasion and will bring out a colourful procession from its Naya Paltan central office premises today.

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