By NNN-BSS
Dhaka : Bangladesh Sunday celebrated the 37th Victory Day with a fresh vow to translate the hopes and aspirations of freedom-loving people as well as the ideals and spirits of the War of Liberation into reality in true perspective.
On this day, the Bengali nation achieved the final victory against the Pakistani occupation forces after a nine-month bloody war in 1971, in which about 3 million people had to sacrifice their lives and more than 200,000 women were abused by occupiers.
Thousands of people from all walks of life, starting from the President of the republic to the day-labourer, thronged to the Jatiya Smriti Soudha at Savar in early morning to pay homage to the heroic sons of the soil by placing wreaths at the alter of the red-ceramic memorial.
The day heralded with 31 gun salutes. The day was a public holiday.
President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed and Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed paid glowing tributes to the martyred by placing wreaths at the National Mausoleum. The President was the first to place wreaths at the Mausoleum at 6.37 am. The Chief Adviser of the caretaker government followed him.
Placing wreaths, the head of the state and the head of the government both stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of respect to the memories of the valiant sons of the soil, who had embraced martyrdom during the War of Liberation of the country in 1971.
A smartly turned out contingent of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force presented salute on the occasion when bugles played the last post.
Speaker Barrister Jamir Uddin Sircar, Chief Justice Mohammad Ruhul Amin, advisers, chiefs of three services, freedom fighters, diplomats, representatives from different international organisations, and high civil and military officials, among others, were present.