Vowing afresh to establish a non-communal and prosperous Bangladesh, the nation yesterday celebrated the 45th Victory Day, paying rich homage to the three million martyrs for their supreme sacrifice for the country’s independence.
The National Memorial in Savar was bedecked with wreaths placed by thousands of people of all walks of life, as they with a deep sense of respect remembered the best sons and daughters of the soil on the glorious and joyous day.
Streets were flooded with enthusiastic people carrying the banners of different political, social, cultural and professional organisations, and singing patriotic songs.
The day was heralded with a 31-gun salute.
Family members of the martyrs and war trial campaigners demanded that all the razakars be tried for their war-time crimes to free the country from stigma.
They also urged the government to compel Pakistan to apologise for the atrocities, ban Jamaat-e-Islami for siding with the Pakistani Army, confiscate the assets of the convicted war criminals and stripping away the voting rights of their family members.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina led the nation in paying homage to the martyrs who laid down their lives to attain the independence of their beloved motherland, by placing wreaths on the altar of the National Mausoleum as army bugles played the last post.
After the president, the prime minister placed another wreath. She then stood there in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the martyrs. A smartly turned out contingent drawn from the three forces presented a state salute on the occasion.
Flanked by senior leaders of the party, Hasina, also the president of the Awami League, laid another wreath at the National Mausoleum as the party chief.
The speaker, the chief justice, ministers, the leader of the opposition, chiefs of the three services, MPs, diplomats and high civil and military officials were present.
The premier also paid rich tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the occasion by placing a wreath at his portrait in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi in the morning.
Later, she also released six commemorative stamps, three first day covers, three data cards and a souvenir at her official residence Ganabhaban.
Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Raushon Ershad and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia placed wreaths at the National Mausoleum at Savar in the morning paying their tributes to the martyred freedom fighters.
President Hamid and his wife Rashida Khanom hosted a reception at Bangabhaban, marking the day. Hasina joined the reception at the lawn of the presidential palace. The president and the premier also cut a cake.
To mark the day, different organisations including government, semi-government, educational institutions, political parties and professional bodies organised processions, discussions, special prayers and cultural programmes honouring the national heroes in the capital as well as other parts of the country.
Call for continuing the trial of the war criminals came from every corner yesterday.
The government has so far executed three top war criminals from Jamaat and another BNP leader after due trial procedure while appeal cases of a number of others including Jamaat chief Motiur Rahman Nizami are awaiting disposal at the apex court.
At 4:31pm, thousands of people sang the National Anthem at Suhrawardy Udyan to mark the moment when the Pakistani Army had surrendered to the joint forces at the historic site.
On the other hand, the four units of Dhaka city Islami Chhatra Shibir, the radical student wing of Jamaat, brought out Victory Day processions in the morning. The processions, led by central leaders of Chhatra Shibir, drew severe criticisms among the pro-liberation people.
Jamaat was termed a criminal organisation in many verdicts of the International Crimes Tribunal. The government is working to amend the related law to try Jamaat as a party for its role in 1971.