Saturday | 11 January 2025 | Reg No- 06
বাংলা
   
Saturday | 11 January 2025 | Epaper

People celebrate July upsurge soaked Victory Day to build new Bangladesh

Published : Tuesday, 17 December, 2024 at 12:00 AM  Count : 403
Staff Correspondent
Abdur Rahman, a middle-aged man with a salt-and-pepper beard, was seen buying a bunch of red roses for his nine-year-old daughter, Anika Tahseen, from a makeshift flower shop stationed outside the main gate of the National Martyrs' Memorial at Savar around 10:20 am on Monday.

"We have come from Rampura to pay respects to the greatest sons of the soil. At an early age, I want my daughter to learn the history of the great 1971 Liberation War that was achieved in exchange for a sea of blood. I want her to know about the sacrifices of our heroes practically," said Abdur Rahman when this correspondent approached him.

From beside, his wife Rima Tahseen remarked that she felt different coming to the memorial to pay tribute this year compared to her sentiment last year.

"I see some renewed energy in everyone's eyes. I can feel it in myself too," Rima told The Daily Observer, suggesting a sense of freedom everyone was enjoying after unshackling the nation from the fascist Awami League during the July-August uprising.

In the early morning, President Mohammed Shahabuddin, Interim Government Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, and East Timor President José Ramos-Horta laid floral wreaths at the memorial in remembrance of the valiant freedom fighters.

After state dignitaries and military chiefs paid their respects, the gates were opened to the public, welcoming citizens to pay homage.

People from all walks of life came to pay their respects since early morning, turning the memorial into a hub of emotion and reverence on the 54th Victory Day of sovereign Bangladesh.

By 9:00 am, every inch of the area was buzzing with people gathered to honour the martyrs. The human sea inside and outside the National Memorial area led to gridlocks on the Dhaka-Aricha Highway for hours. From around 9:00 am until midday, the traffic line stretched over five kilometers from Prantik Gate of Jahangirnagar University to beyond the memorial area. During this time, many people got off buses and reached the memorial on foot.

Most women were seen wearing colourful sarees, and men wore panjabis.

"We owe a lot to our martyrs; they gave us a new identity. After the recent movement of 2024, I feel a stronger sense of responsibility as a citizen. This change has ignited hope that we can achieve more by fulfilling our collective aspirations," said Raihan Uddin, a fourth-year student at East West University.

Various political, socio-political, cultural, and professional organizations, educational institutions, and government and non-government bodies placed floral wreaths. Individuals and families brought flowers, signifying their respect and gratitude to the nation's greatest heroes.

Delegates from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), National Citizen Committee, Bangladesh Awami League, Gono Songhoti Andolon, Gono Odhikar Parishad, Gono Forum, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Bangla Academy, National Museum, Liberation War Museum, and Bangladesh Shishu Academy paid respect to the martyrs at the memorial.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) team, led by party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, placed a floral wreath in the morning.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami organized victory rallies in different cities and districts, including Dhaka.

Educational institutions such as Dhaka University, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Jahangirnagar University, Jagannath University, and University Grants Commission, led by the heads of these institutions, placed floral wreaths, among others.

Other student bodies, including Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, Bangladesh Students' Union, Bangladesh Students' Federation, Democratic Students' Forum, Revolutionary Students' Unity, and Bangladesh Students' Party, paid rich tributes to the martyrs.

Bangladesh Students' Party Member Secretary Ashraful Islam Nirjhor told The Daily Observer, "In exchange for blood and sacrifices in 1971, we achieved a new map, but the autocrats and fascist regimes have repeatedly torn apart our map. The promise of the blood of the martyrs of the great Liberation War of 1971 was equality, human dignity, and social justice. 

However, even after 54 years of independence, equality, human dignity, and social justice have not yet been established in society."

"Those who have ruled, each one of them, have blatantly betrayed the blood of the martyrs," Nirjhor said, adding, "This is why, in 2024, we once again had to shed blood to liberate the country. Anyone who thinks of betraying the blood of the revolutionaries of 2024 will face the same fate as the autocratic and murderous Awami League government. As long as we are alive, we cannot allow the blood of the martyrs to go in vain. Carrying the burden of the martyrs' corpses on our shoulders, we are walking the path. Our struggle will continue until equality, human dignity, and social justice are established in society."

It was seen that Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshti placed floral wreaths at the memorial while singing 'Muktiro Mondiro Sopanotole, Koto Pran Holo Bolidan' in chorus.

Receptions were hosted for freedom fighters and family members of martyrs at the city, district, and upazila levels.

Special prayers were also offered at mosques and other places of worship, seeking eternal peace for the souls of the martyrs of the Liberation War and for peace, progress, and prosperity for the country.


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