ShareKUWAIT: Bangladesh is celebrating the 52nd Victory Day, the most precious day of the Bangali people, on Friday as the country was liberated from the Pakistani occupation forces on the day 51 years back after a nine-month-long bloodstained War of Liberation. On December 16 in 1971, Bangladesh was born as an independent country under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the cost of the supreme sacrifice of three million people and the honor of nearly half a million women.
Victory day is celebrated on December 16 to commemorate the victory of the allied forces over the Pakistani forces in the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. In 1971 Bangladesh fought against Pakistan to become an Independent country, which resulted in the secession of East Pakistan from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and established the sovereign nation called Bangladesh.
On 7thMarch 1971, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh gave speech at the Ramna Race Course in Dhaka to a gathering of over one million people. It was delivered during a period of escalating tensions between East Pakistan and the powerful political and military establishment of West Pakistan. In the speech, Bangabandhu proclaimed: "This time the struggle is for our freedom. This time the struggle is for our independence."
The speech inspired the Bengali people to prepare for a war of independence amid widespread reports of armed mobilization by West Pakistan. On 30 October 2017, UNESCO added the speech in the Memory of the World Register as a documentary heritage. On the night of 25 March, the Pakistan Armed Forces launched "Operation Searchlight" in the capital of East Pakistan. Tanks rolled out on the streets of Dhaka. The troops massacred students and intellectuals in Dhaka University, as well as many civilians in other parts of the city. It set major cities ablaze and crushed resistance from the police and the East Pakistan Rifles (EPR).
Just before his arrest on the night of March 25, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman sent a message about attacks on EPR and police barracks in Dhaka, and declared the independence of Bangladesh. This message was broadcast from Swadhin Bangla BetarKendro (Independent Bangla Radio Centre) on March 26, 1971, and was widely reported in newspapers all around the world.
The war pitted East Pakistan and later India against West Pakistan, and lasted for duration of nine months. The war was one of the most violent wars of the 20th century; it witnessed large-scale atrocities, the exodus of 10 million refugees and the killing of 3 million people by the Pakistani armed forces. After nine months of bloody war Bangladesh was liberated on 16 December 1971.
Victory Day is a national holiday in Bangladesh. At the beginning of the day, the President and the Prime Minister pays homage to the martyrs of the Liberation War by placing wreaths at the National Memorial at Savar on the outskirts of the capital with the rise of the sun. This will be followed by the foreign diplomats, family members of freedom fighters and wounded freedom fighters. Later, leaders of different political and social organizations and people from all walks of life will pay tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War. The celebration of Victory Day has been taking place since 1972. The President and Prime Minister issue separate messages on the occasion, paying glowing tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War in 1971.
The Bangladesh Liberation War became a topic of great importance in cinema, literature, history lessons at school, the mass media, and the arts in Bangladesh. The ritual of the celebration gradually obtained a distinctive character with a number of similar elements: colorful Parade by the Bangladesh Armed Forces at the National Parade Ground, ceremonial meetings, speeches, lectures, receptions and fireworks displays.
Victory Day in Bangladesh is a joyous celebration in which popular culture plays a great role. TV and radio stations broadcast special programs and patriotic songs. Different political parties and socioeconomic organizations undertake programs to mark the day in a befitting manner, including the paying of respects at Jatiyo Smriti Soudho, the national memorial at Savar in Dhaka District.
The victory day programs also include decorating city streets with national flags and colorful festoons, and illumination of important buildings and establishments, roads and street islands at night. The day's highlight is the colorful parade on National Parade Ground where Contingents of the Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force as well as Freedom Fighters, Paramilitary forces, law enforcement agencies and various ministries of the government participated.
The parade is reviewed by the President of Bangladesh in his capacity as Commander in Chief. National dailies brought out special supplements on the occasion while Bangladesh Postal Department released memorial postage stamps. Kuwait recognized Bangladesh on 4thNovember 1973. Since then two friendly countries has been maintaining excellent bi-lateral relations in the field of trade and economic cooperation, export and import, education and cultural cooperation, labor market and defense cooperation.
We deeply acknowledge the contribution of Kuwait in the natural calamities and making socio-economic development in Bangladesh through Kuwait Fund and hosting around 2,50,000 migrant workers. Similarly, whenever situation demanded, Bangladesh stood shoulder to shoulder to our time tested friend Kuwait. Participation of Bangladesh Army as a part of coalition forces during liberation of Kuwait in 1990, presence of Bangladesh Military Contingent since 1991, sending of emergency medical team during the COVID pandemic are of worth mentioning.
On this joyous Victory Day, we express our sincere gratitude to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and to the brotherly people of Kuwait for their continued support towards us. May Bangladesh-Kuwait friendship live forever!
