The nation celebrates the Victory Day today (Friday) with elaborate programmes across the country.
On this glorious day in 1971, Bangladesh was liberated as an independent country after the Pakistani occupation forces surrendered following a bloody nine-month war.
Various programmes will be held today to pay deep homage to the martyrs who laid down their lives for the country during the Liberation War in 1971.
Along with the government, different socio-political, educational and cultural institutions and organisations have drawn up a series of programmes to celebrate the day, reports UNB.
The day's programme will begin with a 31-gun salute.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will pay tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War by placing wreaths at the National Memorial in Savar early in the morning.
They will be followed by the freedom fighters and their family members, foreign diplomats, leaders of Awami League and different political and social organisations and people from all walks of life.
As part of the day's programmes, a colourful parade will be held at the National Parade Square in Tejgaon around 10:30 am.
Freedom fighters, members of the Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies will take part in the parade.
President Abdul Hamid will take salutes and inspect the parade as the chief guest while Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will also be present at the parade.
Discussion meetings will be held at the national level on the theme of 'Empowering the spirit of the liberation war and the best use of digital technology in building Sonar Bangla as dreamt by the Father of the Nation.'
The national flag will be hoisted atop government, semi-government, autonomous and private offices across the country.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on the occasion.
In his message, the President has greeted the country's people living at home and abroad on the occasion of the Victory Day.
He recalled with profound respect the greatest Bangalee of all time Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
In her message, the Prime Minister said the establishment of the nation-state 'Bangladesh' through the victory of the War of Liberation on 16 December 1971 was the greatest achievement of the Bangalee nation.
Responding to the clarion call of the Greatest Bangalee of all time, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Bangalee nation achieved the ultimate victory on this day in 1971 after 23 years of intense political struggle and nine months of blood-shedding War of Liberation, said the PM.
She said, "Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib elevated Bangladesh to a 'least developed' country, and we took the motherland to the row of a 'developing' state on the auspicious occasion of 'Mujib Year' and the Golden Jubilee of our victory. Everything we have achieved in the last 51 years since our Independence has been attained by the Father of the Nation and the Awami League."
She also hoped that this trend of development will continue, Bangladesh will be established as a hunger-poverty-free and developed- prosperous country by 2041 as dreamt by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
