BSS :
The nation on Saturday celebrated the 53rd Victory Day, the most precious day of the nation, with paying glowing tributes to 1971 Liberation War martyrs and recalling the glorious history, the nation scripted 52 years back by freeing the soil from long subjugation.
On December 16 in 1971, Bangladesh was born as an independent state under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the cost of the supreme sacrifices of three million people and the honour of nearly half a million women.
Marking the day, President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid homage to the martyrs of the Liberation War by placing wreaths at the National Memorial at Savar on Saturday morning.
The President laid the wreath at the altar of the National Memorial with the rise of the sun at 6:33 am followed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
A contingent drawn from the Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force presented the state salute on the occasion.
After placing the wreath, the president stood in solemn silence for a while as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the 1971 martyrs as the bugle played the last post.
President Shahabuddin also signed the visitors’ book kept there.
Sheikh Hasina, also the president of the ruling Awami League, placed another wreath at the National Memorial as the party chief. Senior leaders of the party were present.
AL general secretary Obaidul Quader, presidium members Begum Matia Chowdhury, Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, Shajahan Khan, Jahangir Kabir Nanak and AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, joint general secretaries- Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, organising secretary BM Mozzamel Haque, publicity and publication secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap, science and technology affairs secretary Engineer Abdus Sabur, office secretary Barrister Biplab Barua and deputy office secretary Sayem Khan were present.
When the president and the prime minister left the National Memorial premises, people of all strata were allowed to pay their tributes to the 1971 martyrs by placing wreaths.
