The Pakistani occupation army had surrendered to the Bangladesh-India Joint Command in Dhaka on this day (December 16) in 1971, ending the nine-month long bloody Liberation War and giving birth to independent Bangladesh.

In the afternoon on December 16 in 1971, Chief of Pakistan Eastern Command Lt General AAK Niazi surrendered to the Commander of Joint Command Lt General Jagjit Singh Arora at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka city.

About 30 lakh people sacrificed their lives during the nine-month long war for the national freedom.

The nation will celebrate the anniversary of its glorious victory over Pakistani occupation forces in a befitting manner today. The Victory Day will be celebrated across the country and at Bangladesh missions abroad, while expatriate Bangladeshis would observe the day in their respective places of residence.

With the day dawning, the grateful nation will pay homage to the 30-lakh martyrs who sacrificed their lives to have a homeland in 1971.

Tributes will be paid to the Liberation War heroes by placing wreaths at the National Mausoleum at Savar in the morning.

President Dr Iajuddin Ahmed will lead the nation by laying floral wreath at the memorial.

The day will be heralded by 31-gun salute at dawn. The day is a public holiday. National flag will be hoisted atop all government, semi-government and other important establishments.

The Government, major political parties, including the Awami League (AL) and BNP, and different socio-cultural organisations have chalked out programmes to mark the occasion.

President Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed and Chief Adviser of the Caretaker Government Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed issued separate messages on this occasion, felicitating the nation and calling for united effort to attain the prime goal of the liberation war through building a happy, rich and self-reliant country.

In his message Dr Iajuddin Ahmed said, “The main goal of our liberation war was to build up a happy, prosperous and self-reliant country. Targeting the goal we have achieved a democratic system. Now it is time to make this democratic system more effective and stronger.”

He called for all to perform their responsibility unitedly to ensure transparency and accountability in building a healthy and good society. “This should be the promise of Victory Day,” he said.

Chief Advisor Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed said, “As a nation we are passing through a transitional period. We are at a tough war against poverty-hunger, repression-deprivation, corruption and misrule.”

He added: “We are facing tough challenges of holding a free, fair and credible election, establishing democracy on a strong footing, improving people’s lifestyle and their fate.”

The head of Caretaker Government, which was installed in office amid a grave political crisis, observed that the double-pronged floods this past fall and the devastation by the catastrophic cyclone Sidr made these challenges yet “tougher".

“I believe that a nation which has the glory of victory in the great liberation war would never concede defeat. We have to face all of these challenges with determination, being imbued with the spirit of independence,” he said.

He called upon all to work unitedly to build up a happy and prosperous nation.

The department of Mass Communication under the Ministry of Information has chalked out an elaborate programme in celebration of the Victory Day throughout the country tomorrow.

Under the programmes folk singers of the department will perform patriotic songs at different spots on the bank of river Buriganga on the department’s launches and at different points of the capital on mobile trucks.

Sixty-four district information offices and four hil upazila offices of the department will arrange the screening of documentary films on the theme of the day across the country.

Besides, the department will provide public-address system at the grand parade and rally to be held at Bangabandhu National Stadium and other government programmes to be organised to mark the day.

Members of the Bangladesh Armed Forces will join the nation in observing the great Victory Day in a befitting manner.

Special munajat will be offered at all mosques of Army, Navy and Air Force all over the country seeking divine blessings for the peace and progress of the country and development of the armed forces.

The national flag will be hoisted stop services’ headquarters and Armed Forces installations.

Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force bands will perform at Crescent Lake (Sangsad Bhaban Area), Farmgate Park Area and Mirpur Stadium respectively from 2pm to 4pm. They will play different patriotic and popular tunes.

Special prayers will be offered at mosques, temples, churches and other places of worship, seeking divine blessings for peace and progress of the country. Improved diets will be served at hospitals, jails, orphanages and vagrant centres.

The state-run Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar and private television and radio channels will air special programmes while the national dailies will bring out special supplements highlighting the significance of the day.

Bangla Academy, Shilpakala Academy and Bangladesh Shishu Academy will organise separate cultural functions, film shows and painting competitions.

Bangladesh missions abroad will organise discussions and cultural functions on the occasion.

Security has been beefed up here at the National Mausoleum at Savar on this occasion.

About 3,000 security forces were deployed in and around the National Mausoleum yesterday.

Besides, Inspector General of Police Noor Mohammad yesterday said the law enforcing agencies, including police and RAB would keep a strict vigil on violation of law and order during different programmes marking the Victory Day.

“Police, RAB and other law enforcers will keep close watch during the Victory Day programmes across the country,” he told journalists after attending a meeting at Razarbagh in the capital.