Bangladesh celebrates 50th Victory Day

Kathmandu : Bangladesh on Wednesday celebrated its 50th Victory day with due solemnity and rich tributes paid to the martyrs of the Liberation War of 1971.

The Victory Day’s programs commenced with a 31-gun salute followed by rich tributes of Bangladeshi President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the National Mausoleum in Savar on the outskirts of capital Dhaka in the early hours.

On behalf of the president and the prime minister, their military secretaries placed the floral wreaths at around 6:34 a.m. local time at the altar of the mausoleum.

A smartly turned-out contingent of the Bangladesh Armed Forces, meanwhile, gave a state salute, while a bugle played a dirge.

Due to a fresh surge of COVID-19 cases in the cold weather, this year the day is being observed on a limited scale discarding all sorts of massive gathering with the president and the prime minister not being physically present at the mausoleum.

However, the national flag is hoisted atop all government and private buildings while the government and semi-government buildings and other public places illuminated and roads and islands decorated with flags and festoons in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country.

Imbued with the spirit of independence, government, political, social and cultural organizations drew up programs ensuring social distancing and wearing masks to celebrate the victory of the war.

Special prayers are being offered in mosques, temples, pagodas and other places of worship for the departed souls and the country’s peace, progress and prosperity.

Newspapers have published special supplements marking the day while televisions and radio stations aired special programs.