Kathmandu, Nepal: The Bangladesh Embassy in Kathmandu hosted a vibrant and deeply meaningful program on Tuesday as part of the celebration of the Victory Day 2025, honoring the heroic sacrifices of the 1971 Liberation War martyrs and the martyrs of the July-August Mass Uprising 2024.
The event brought together a distinguished gathering, including high-level regional officials and the Bangladeshi community.
High-Profile Attendance and Solemn Tributes
The premises of the Embassy were filled with solemnity and fervor as the day’s program commenced at 10:00 am with the hoisting of the national flag and the playing of the national anthem. A one-minute silence was observed to remember the martyrs of the nine-month Liberation War. Special prayers were offered for the eternal peace of the departed souls of both the 1971 martyrs and those who sacrificed their lives in the July–August Mass-uprising 2024.
The event was graced by Ambassador Md. Golam Sarwar, Secretary General of the SAARC Secretariat; officials from the SAARC Secretariat and Bangladesh Biman Airlines; expatriate nationals; members of the Bangladeshi community; and distinguished Nepali personalities. Notably, the players and officials of a Bangladeshi women’s football team currently visiting Kathmandu also joined the celebration.
SAARC Secretary General and Ambassador Highlight National Spirit
During the discussion segment, Ambassador Md. Golam Sarwar, Secretary General of SAARC, underscored the enduring significance of Victory Day. He called upon the audience to uphold the spirit of the Great Liberation War and stressed the "urgency for working collectively towards realizing the opportunity created through the July–August mass uprising to build a discrimination-free and inclusive Bangladesh."
Delivering the concluding remarks, Bangladesh Ambassador to Nepal, Mr. Md. Shafiqur Rahman, paid profound homage to the valiant martyrs and freedom fighters of both the 1971 War and the July Mass Uprising.
"The July Mass-Uprising added a new dimension towards achieving the unfulfilled dream of our liberation war by providing the opportunity to build a fair, just corruption-free and inclusive Bangladesh 2.0," the Ambassador stated.
He drew a powerful analogy, noting that just as the 1971 freedom fighters laid down their lives for a new state free from discrimination, the new generation's youth in 2024 made supreme sacrifices to rebuild the country based on the values of democracy, equity, fairness, and justice. He urged all expatriates to contribute to building this new 'Bangladesh 2.0.'
Cultural Exchange Adds Festive Dimension
Adding a festive and colorful dimension to the celebration was the cultural program. Students from a local art school in Kathmandu performed captivating dances set to both Bangla and Nepali music. The performance of Bangla and Nepali songs by Ms. Saraswati Khatri, a vocalist of Nepal’s Sur Sudha Music Group, was a key attraction.
Messages on the significance of the Day from the Hon’ble President, Hon’ble Chief Adviser, and Hon’ble Adviser for Foreign Affairs were also read out. The program concluded with a lunch hosted in honor of the distinguished guests.
