Bangladesh missions abroad have celebrated the Victory Day in a befitting manner with patriotic zeal and enthusiasm to build “Golden Bangla” imbibed by the spirit of 1971 War of Independence. Special prayers, discussions, cultural events, and art competition were the highlights of the December 16 celebrations, according to the messages received here.
Victory Day messages from President Md. Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Minister A.K Abdul Momen, and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam were read out during the celebration. Expatriate Bangladeshis took part in most functions. The Millennium Post, a leading English daily published from New Delhi and Kolkata, brought out a special Victory Day supplement focusing on the significance of this historic day, the warm Indo-Bangladesh relations and Bangladesh’s remarkable economic achievements under the able leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
A session of patriotic songs and poetry recitation enthralled the audience comprising war veterans, friends of Bangladesh, media persons, diplomats and Bangladeshi students studying in New Delhi, the High Commission said. The chancery building was illuminated to match the celebratory mood of the day. In Washington, the daylong celebration at the embassy started with the hoisting of national flag and playing of national anthem on the embassy premises.
Bangladesh Ambassador to the US Mohammad Ziauddin accompanied by officers and employees of the embassy placed wreath at the bust of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and stood in silence for a while as a mark of respect for the great leader. A special prayer was offered seeking divine blessings for the departed souls of the Father of the Nation and members of his family assassinated on August 15, 1975, the four national leaders and martyred freedom fighters.
The Ambassador briefly recalled the history of Bangladesh’s liberation war. “The ruthless brutality of the genocide stunned the conscience of the world,” he said, adding in the US, the American people took the side of the brutalized Bengalis. He mentioned the names of Senator Edward Kennedy, former US consul general in Dhaka Archer Blood, famous musician George Harrison and poet Allen Ginsberg, along with many other personalities, who played an active role in support of Bangladesh’s independence.
Characterizing Dhaka-Washington bilateral relation as excellent, the Ambassador stressed the need for expanding the present multifaceted cooperation to newer areas for mutual interests of the two countries. In Copenhagen, the Bangladesh Ambassador Muhammad A Muhith announced that the embassy would celebrate the 'Mujib Barhsa’ throughout the year 2020, marking the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation.
He urged the expatriate Bangladeshi community members, which included political figures, artistes, professionals working with various Danish government and non-government organisations and UN bodies, and their family members to join different events of the yearlong celebration. Those events will include, among others, installation of a Bust of the Father of the Nation and a 'Shaheed Minar' at the Chancery premises owned by the government of Bangladesh, photo exhibitions, cultural programmes, seminar and symposium on the life and works of Bangabandhu, and film festival.
A documentary on the country’s remarkable socio-economic development ‘Bangladesh is moving ahead’ was also screened at the Victory Day celebration.
