Armed Forces Day will be observed today through various programmes amid festivity and enthusiasm, marking the establishment of the Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy, and Bangladesh Air Force during the country’s Liberation War.
On this day in 1971, the Bangladesh Armed Forces, comprising the army, navy and air force, came into being and launched an all-out attack on the Pakistani occupation forces.
Since the country’s independence, the day has been observed as the Armed Forces Day every year.
The day’s programmes will begin with the offering of special prayers in mosques of all cantonments, naval and air force bases across the country after Fajr prayers, seeking divine blessings for the well-being and prosperity of the nation and progress of the armed forces, the Inter-Services Public Relations said in a press release on Wednesday.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin, the supreme commander of the Armed Forces, and Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus issued separate messages greeting the armed forces members on the occasion.
To mark the day, President and Chief Adviser will lay wreaths at ‘Shikha Anirban’ (the Eternal Flame) at Dhaka Cantonment today to pay homage to the members of the Armed Forces who laid down their lives during our Liberation War in 1971.
Later, Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Nazmul Hassan and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan will also lay wreaths at ‘Shikha Anirban’ on behalf of their respective forces.
On the occasion, chiefs of the three services will pay courtesy call on the President at the Bangabhaban and Chief Adviser at Armed Forces Division on the day.
The Chief Adviser will accord a reception to family members of the Bir Shreshthas and selected number of gallantry award winning 1971 veterans and their familie members at Army Multipurpose Complex in Dhaka Cantonment.
Liberation War Affairs Adviser, Chief adviser’s special assistant on defence and national solidarity development affairs, chiefs of the three services, CA’s Principal Secretary, Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division, Secretary of the Defence Ministry, Secretary of Liberation War Affairs Ministry and other military and civil officials will be present at the function.
Besides, a reception programme will be arranged for the Chief Adviser at Senakunja in the cantonment at 4:00pm today.
Chief justice, former presidents, former chief advisers, advisers and the people with the rank of adviser, foreign envoys in Bangladesh, chiefs of international organisations, judges, cabinet secretary, principal secretary, former chiefs of the three services, former military officials, Swadhinata Padak and Ekushey Padak winning people in 2022, journalists, educationists, political leaders and dignitaries, coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement, family members of all Bir Shresthos, gallantry award-winning officials, who lived in Dhaka during and after the Liberation War, and their family members, high civil officials and serving and former officials of three services will join the reception.
The state-run Bangladesh Television (BTV) will live telecast the function.
Receptions will also be accorded at the cantonments or bases in Barishal, Cox’s Bazar, Bogura, Sylhet, Ghatail, Chattogram, Jashore, Rangpur, and Khulna under the regional headquarters.
Various programmes have also been devised at different army garrisons, naval ships, installations, and air force bases across the country outside Dhaka.
Bangladesh Navy will keep its ships open for all from 2:00pm until the sun sets at different naval berths, rocket ghats and BIWTA ghats in Dhaka, Khulna, Chandpur Barishal and Chattogram to visit on the occasion of the Armed Forces Day today.
BTV broadcast a ‘Special Anirban’ programme illustrating the significance of the day on Wednesday after the news at 8:00pm, and later, other television channels gradually telecast the programme.
Bangladesh Betar will broadcast a programme, ‘Special Durber’, at 7.30pm today. National dailies will publish special supplements highlighting the significance of the day.
The educational institutions run by armed forces organised essay and painting competitions marking the Armed Forces Day.
