The Armed Forces Day will be celebrated today marking the founding of army, navy and air force during the 1971 Liberation War, reports BSS.
The day’s programme will begin with the offering of special prayers after Fazr prayers at all mosques in all the cantonments, naval and air force bases throughout the country seeking divine blessings for the well-being and prosperity of the nation and progress of the armed forces, an ISPR statement said.
President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages greeting members of the armed forces on the occasion. As part of the day’s programme, the president and the premier will lay wreaths at the Shikha Anirban (the Eternal Flame) at Dhaka Cantonment paying deep homage to the martyred armed forces members who laid down their lives in the Liberation War.
They will be followed by Army Chief General Aziz Ahmed, Navy Chief Admiral Abu Mozaffar Mohiuddin Mohammed Aurangzeb Chowdhury and Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Masihuzzaman Serniabat in performing the ritual on behalf of their respective forces. The chiefs of the three services will also call on the President at the Bangabhaban and the prime minster at the Armed Forces Division.
The prime minister is scheduled to meet the family members of the Bir Shresthos and other gallantry award winning 1971 veterans at the Armed Forces Division at Army Multipurpose Complex at Dhaka Cantonment. She would distribute peace award for 2018-19 among nine army, two navy and three air forces men.
The premier will host a reception at Senakunja in the afternoon, said the ISPR press release. The Jatiya Sangsad speaker, chief justice, former presidents, leader of the opposition in parliament, cabinet members, Supreme Court judges, chief election commissioner, election commissioners, foreign envoys, high civil and military officers, the intelligentsia, senior journalists and other distinguished personalities will join the reception.
The state-run Bangladesh Television (BTV) will air the function live. A ‘Special Anirban’ programme illustrating the significance of the day will be telecast by BTV today at 8 pm and the programme would be telecast by other television channels tomorrow while national dailies will publish special supplements highlighting the significance of the day. Bangladesh Betar would broadcast a programme “Spechial Durber” tomorrow at 7.30 pm.
Savar, Bogura, Ghatail, Chattogram, Cumilla, Sylhet, Jashore, Rangpur, Khulna and Rajendrapur cantonments will host receptions marking the day. Various programmes have also been chalked out at different army garrisons, naval ships, installations and bases of the air force across the country outside Dhaka.