Today is the 51st Victory Day, the most precious day of the Bangalees, as Bangladesh was liberated from the Pakistani occupation forces on this day 50 years ago.
On 16 December 1971, Bangladesh achieved its independent statehood under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman after a nine-month bloody war against the Pakistani hyenas.
The liberty was purchased at too great a price: at the cost of the supreme sacrifice of three million people and the honour of nearly half a million women.
The celebration of Victory Day this year adds a new dimension as it coincides with the two galas—birth centenary of Bangabandhu and the golden jubilee of the country's independence.
President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday issued separate messages ahead of this red-letter day, paying glowing tributes to the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War.
Meanwhile, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's Birth Centenary Celebration National Implementation Committee chalked out a two-day special programme styled 'The Great Hero of the Great Victory' at the south plaza of parliament from December 16.
At the beginning of the first day's programme, BSS reports, the PM is due to administer an oath to the nation at 4:30pm as part of the celebrations.
A discussion will be held in the second session of the programme with the premier in the chair.
President Hamid will join the event as the chief guest while his Indian counterpart Ram Nath Kovind will be the guest of honour.
Liberation war affairs minister AKM Mozammel Haque and parliament speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury will address the event while chief coordinator of the implementation committee Dr Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury will deliver a welcome speech.
Bangabandhu's younger daughter Sheikh Rehana will present the 'Sraddha Smarak-Mujib Chironton' to the guest of honour.
The next day, a cultural programme will be organised on the Sangsad premises around 5:30 pm.
The Covid-19 health guideline will be maintained duly during the two giant celebrations.
The Victory Day's programmes at national level include a 31-gun salute, placing wreaths at monuments in homage to martyrs and hoisting the national flag atop all government, semi-government and private offices as well as offices of autonomous bodies countrywide.
The programmes also include decorating thoroughfares with miniature flags and colourful festoons, and illumination of important buildings, establishments and road islands at night.
The President and the PM are scheduled to pay homage to the martyrs by placing wreaths at the National Mausoleum at Savar at sunrise.
They will be followed by the family members of the seven greatest martyred heroes, wounded freedom fighters and warriors led by the minister concerned.
Later, foreign diplomats, leaders of Awami League and other socio-political organisations and people from all walks of life will pay their tributes.
Contingents of the army, navy and air force, as well as freedom fighters, paramilitary forces, law-enforcement agencies and government ministries, will join the parade at the National Parade Square at 10.30 am.
President Hamid will inspect and take salutes at the parade while PM Hasina will witness the parade.
Besides, a discussion on the best use of digital technology and the upholding of the spirit of the liberation war in building Sonar Bangla [Golden Bangla] as dreamt by Bangabandhu will be held.
Receptions will be accorded to valiant freedom fighters and family members of martyrs in the metropolis, districts and sub-districts across the country.
Special prayers will be offered at mosques and other places of worship, seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of the martyrs and peace, progress and prosperity of the country.
Children parks and museums will remain open for all and liberation war-based movies be screened at the cinemas for free all day.
A poster exhibition and historical documentary screening will be held at Swadhinata Stambha and Underground Museum at Suhrawardy Udyan.
Similar programmes will be taken at district and upazila levels as well as Bangladesh missions abroad, highlighting the significance of the day.
The day is a public holiday.
National dailies bring out special supplements on the occasion while Bangladesh Postal Department releases memorial postage stamps.
The state-owned and private television and radio stations will broadcast special programmes, highlighting the spirit and significance of the war.
On the day, improved diets will be served to inmates of jails, hospitals, orphanages and vagrant homes.
Political, social and cultural organisations, including Awami League, Shilpakala Academy, Bangla Academy, National Museum, Liberation War Museum and Shishu Academy will celebrate the day elaborately.
At sunrise, the ruling AL will hoist national and party flags at its central office, the historic Bangabandhu Bhaban and the countrywide party offices.
It will place a wreath at the national memorial at Savar at 7:00 am and on the portrait of Bangabandhu at Dhanmondi 32 at 8:00 am.
An AL delegation will place a wreath at Bangabandhu's grave at Tungipara at 11:00 am.
On December 18, the AL will bring out a victory rally from Suhrawardy Udyan marking the golden jubilee of the victory at 2:30 pm to end at Bangabandhu Bhaban.