Bangladesh celebrates 52nd Victory Day

By Md. Kamruzzaman

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) – Bangladesh celebrated its 52nd Victory Day on Friday, commemorating the country's triumph over a nine-month-long war in 1971 and its emergence as an independent nation on the world map.

President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid solemn tributes to the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War by laying wreaths at the country’s National Memorial in Savar, on the outskirts of the capital Dhaka, on Friday morning.

To show homage to the martyrs on the most precious day of the South Asian Muslim majority nation, top government officials stood in solemn silence for a few moments, with smartly dressed contingents of the army, navy, and air force presenting state salutes.

Newspapers published special write-ups, and television networks broadcasted special programming on the occasion.

Special prayers were offered at mosques and other places of worship to seek the eternal peace of the martyrs' departed souls.

The delta nation of nearly 170 million people began its Liberation War against united Pakistan on March 26, 1971, and won on December 16, the same year, after a huge sacrifice of lives and property.

Bangladesh was then the eastern part of united Pakistan, known as "East Pakistan," and both were liberated from the British colonial regime in 1947 when India was also liberated from the 190-year-long British occupation.

On the occasion, tens of thousands of people from all walks of life came out of their homes across the country to celebrate the victory anniversary.

A large number of countrymen gathered at the National Memorial to lay wreaths in honor of the freedom heroes who gave their lives for the sake of their country and countrymen.

"This is a wonderful day for us because it reminds us of how much sacrifice we made for our liberation. This day motivates us to be patriotic, honest, and hardworking for the betterment of the nation," Tamim Hossain, a Dhaka University student, told Anadolu Agency.

Asma Akhter, a housewife from Dhaka's Mirpur neighborhood, told the Turkish news agency that they all want Bangladesh to be free of corruption and injustice.

People have also expressed hope to be more patriotic and sincere to serve the motherland being enlightened with the spirit of Victory Day.