The Armed Forces Day will be observed Thursday (November 21) amid festivity and enthusiasm marking the establishment of the army, navy and air forces during the 1971 Liberation War.
The day's programmes will begin with offering special prayer after Fajr prayers at mosques in all the cantonments, naval and air force bases in the country seeking divine blessings for martyred members of the armed forces in 1971 and the well-being and prosperity of the nation and the armed forces, said an ISPR press release on Wednesday.
To mark the day, President Mohammed Shahabuddin, also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and Chief Adviser of the interim government Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus delivered separate messages.
Meanwhile, restriction has been imposed on vehicular movement inside the Dhaka cantonment, marking the Armed Forces Day. ISPR press release has said that the measure has been taken to keep the roads of Dhaka Cantonment (main road from Shaheed Jahangir gate to the staff road) free of traffic congestion.
It added, all types of vehicles, except the vehicles carrying guests and inhabitants in the area, are requested to avoid plying through the cantonment area between 7AM to 11AM and 12noon to 7PM on the day.
The president and the chief adviser will place wreaths at the Shikha Anirban (Flame Eternal) at Dhaka Cantonment on Thursday morning.
Later, Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Nazmul Hassan and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan will also lay wreaths at the Shikha Anirban on behalf of their respective forces.
The chief adviser will exchange pleasantries and have courtesy meeting with the chiefs of the three services at his Armed Forces Division's office in Dhaka cantonment. The chiefs of the three services later will have courtesy call-on with the president at the Bangabhaban on the day.
On the occasion, the chief adviser will accord a reception to the selected gallantry award winning valiant Freedom Fighters and their family members at Army Multipurpose Complex in Dhaka Cantonment.
He will also distribute souvenir and exchange greetings with the gallantry award winning war veterans at that time.
Adviser of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, Chief Adviser's Special Assistant (Defense and National Solidarity Development Affairs), Army Chief, Navy Chief, Air Chief, Principal Secretary to the Chief Adviser, Principal Staff Officer (PSO) of the Armed Forces Division, Defense Secretary, Liberation War Affairs Secretary and high level civil and military officials , among others, will attend the function.
To mark the day, on behalf of the chief adviser, a reception will also be held at Sena Kunja in Dhaka Cantonment at 4pm on Thursday.
Chief justice, former presidents, former chief advisers, advisers, foreign diplomats, heads of international organizations, judges, secretaries, former chiefs of the three services, former military officers, Independence Award and Ekushey Award recipients, journalists, academics, political and eminent persons, coordinators of Anti-Discrimination Students Movement and retired officers, among other dignitaries, will join the programme.
Bangladesh Television will live telecast the programme.
Receptions will also be arranged at cantonment or bases at Barishal, Cox's Bazar, Bogura, Sylhet, Ghatail, Chattogram, Cumilla, Jashore, Rangpur and Khulna under the area headquarters.
Various programmes have also been chalked out at different army garrisons, naval and air bases outside Dhaka to mark the day.
Bangladesh Navy will keep its ships open for all visitors from 2PM until the sun sets at different naval ghats in Dhaka, Khulna, Chandpur, Barishal and Chattogram Thursday.
A 'Special Anirban' programme illustrating the significance of the day will be telecast on BTV after the news of 8PM on Wednesday as the Bangladesh Betar will broadcast a programme "Bishesh Durbar" at 7.30PM Thursday.
The special Anirban programme would be telecast later on other television channels gradually.
National dailies will publish special supplements highlighting the significance of the day.
The educational institutions run by armed forces will organize essay and painting competitions marking the Armed Forces Day as well.
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