We extend our heartiest greetings to the countrymen, our valued readers and well-wishers on the auspicious occasion of our great 53rd Victory Day.
Bangladesh has already completed 52 years of her victory. This is a glorious day for the Bangali nation.
On this august occasion we are recalling the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman with deep gratitude. Responding to the clarion call of the greatest Bangali of all time, Bangabandhu, the nation achieved ultimate victory on this day in 1971 after 23 years of intense political struggles and nine months of blood-shedding War of Liberation.
We are also paying tributes to 30 lakh martyrs and two lakh violated mothers and sisters. Therefore, today is the most important day of the country’s history since its independence on December 16 in 1971.
Bangladesh steps into the 53 years of its independence today as the country was liberated from the Pakistani occupation forces on the day 52 years back after a nine-month-long bloodstained war. Fifty two years ago on this day on December 16, 1971, Bangladesh was born into an independent nation in the world map.
On this day in 1971, Pakistani occupation forces surrendered after a nine-month war resulting in birth of free, independent and sovereign Bangladesh. The surrender took place at the Ramna Race Course now Suhrawardy Udyan, in Dhaka following a miserable defeat to the joint forces of Mukti Bahini and Mitra Bahini.
In one of the heinous acts of genocide in history, the Pakistan Army and their local collaborators had launched a barbarous crackdown killing innocent and unarmed people in the erstwhile East Pakistan at midnight March 25, 1971. On this august occasion we are also saluting the freedom fighters with due respect.
The whole nation is also paying deep homage to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the country in the Liberation War in 1971. We think it is good luck for all us and a matter of pride for the Awami League that the political party, which led the freedom struggle, is in power on this auspicious occasion of the country’s independence.
With a fresh vow to uphold the spirit of the hard-earned independence and democracy and eliminate the anti-liberation forces, the nation is celebrating the 53rd Victory Day today. This year’s Victory Day is very significant as the Election Commission has made an all-out effort to hold the upcoming 12th Jatiya Sangsad poll slated for January 7 in a free, fair and credible manner at amid conspiracy hatched at home and abroad.
So, all must remain alert about conspiracies being hatched by the defeated forces at home and abroad and build collective resistance against any sort of violence as they are out to run the upcoming general election.
People of the country must understand that those involved in arson violence and uprooting rail line fish plates are the accomplices of the defeated forces of 1971, reiterating the pledge that the country would never be handed over to them. So, we all must take a fresh oath that we will never hand over the country to the defeated forces.
Bangladesh is now going through at an important transition period of the country’s journey of development and unusual situation of global financial crisis caused by Russia- Ukraine war coupled with Covid-19 pandemic. Bangladesh is a respected name across the world today. Bangladesh’s representation in international forums, including various UN organisations, is mentionable now.
But, we all must remain alert so that the way Bangladesh is moving fast today on the highway of development is not obstructed anyhow. Besides, we all have to be committed to removing all obstacles on the path of development.
Bangladesh is a country of communal harmony and people of all religions and castes have been living here by maintaining mutual tolerance and will continue to do so in the future.