Bangladesh Embassy in Netherlands celebrated the Victory Day with due solemnity.
On Saturday morning, Bangladesh Ambassador to Netherlands M Riaz Hamidullah hoisted the national flag at the Chancery and placed a floral wreath at the portrait of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Special messages of the president, prime minister, foreign minister and state minister for Foreign Affairs were read out to the Dutch and Bangladeshi audience, reads a press release.
A colourful cultural program was organized to celebrate the day where expat Bangladeshis rendered various cultural performances. A documentary on William Ouderland, the lone foreign national decorated with the gallantry award Bir Pratik, was screened.
The embassy arranged a painting competition for children at the chancery premises as well. The Grand Prize winner of the 19th Asian Biennale, Harald Schole, a Dutch artist, was handed over his prize on this occasion.
In his remarks, the ambassador paid tribute to the Father of the nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, all the martyrs and all freedom fighters.
He emphasized inspiring the new generation to explore the history of the liberation war.
The right of self-determination as Bangladeshi was achieved through a long, bloody struggle and huge sacrifice, he elaborated. Under the leadership of the father of the nation, the mass people of Bangladesh fought fearlessly leading to the defeat of the Pakistani occupational force on 16 December 1971He hoped that the future generation would remember the history of the liberation war and contribute to building Sonar Bangla.
On this occasion, a newly founded entity, consisting of expat Bangladeshi professionals, experts in the Netherlands and Dutch nationals with exposure to Bangladesh, “Friends of Bangladesh in Netherlands”, was launched.
