Liberation War
Victory Day: BNP pays homage to Liberation War martyrs
BNP on Friday paid homage to the martyred freedom fighters who made the supreme sacrifice for the country during the Liberation War in 1971, by placing wreaths at the National Mausoleum in Savar, marking the Victory Day.
BNP's standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain together with party senior leaders placed wreaths at the memorial around 9am.
Later, they placed wreaths at the grave of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman at Sher-e-Banglanagar in the capital.
Read more: BNP leaders, activists being treated inhumanely in jail: BNP
The BNP leaders also offered a monajat seeking salvation of Zia’s departed soul.
Khandaker Mosharraf told the reporters, “On this victory day, we hope, we expect - the dictator-fascist government will be ousted from Bangladesh, democracy will be re-established, people's government will be established.”
Replying to Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader’s remark on BNP’s connection with militancy, he said this government is distorting the history of the liberation war to stay in power, distorting the 50-year history of Bangladesh for their own advantage.
“But people are aware. People will judge whether they (Awami League government) are right, or whether people are right.”
BNP also took out a colourful ‘V Day Rally’ around 2:30pm from Nayapaltan in front of BNP’s Central office.
Read more: Oust govt to materialise dreams of martyred intellectuals: BNP
BNP’s different units and associate bodies also marked the day with various programmes across the country.
Earlier in the morning, they hoisted national and party flags atop the party offices marking the Victory Day.
The nation has celebrated the Victory Day on Friday to pay deep homage to the martyrs of the Liberation War.
After a bloodstained nine-month-long war and at the cost of the supreme sacrifice of three million martyrs and the honour of nearly half a million mothers and sisters, Bangladesh finally gained its freedom as an independent country on this glorious day, December 16, 1971 with the surrender of Pakistani occupation forces.
Victory Day: PM pays tributes to Liberation War martyrs
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday paid tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War by placing wreaths at the National Memorial in Savar, marking the 52nd Victory Day.
Sheikh Hasina placed floral wreaths at the altar of the memorial around 6:34 am to pay homage to the great heroes of the country.
After placing the wreath, she stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the martyrs of the Great War of Liberation in 1971.
A smartly turned out contingent drawn from Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force presented a state salute on the occasion when the bugles played the last post.
Flanked by senior leaders of the party, Sheikh Hasina, also the President of the ruling Awami League (AL), laid another wreath at the National Memorial as the party chief.
The Prime Minister also signed the visitor's book kept there.
Later, Sheikh Hasina as the Prime Minister and the president of Bangladesh Awami League paid homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman placing two separate wreaths at his portrait at Bangabandhu Bhaban in the city’s Dhanmondi-32 area in the morning.
Read more:Bangladesh set to celebrate Victory Day Friday
The prime minister will also join the military parade programme at National Parade Square at 10:30pm, when President Abdul Hamid will take salutes and inspect the parade as the chief guest.
She will enjoy the attractive march past, spectacular fly-past and aerobatic display there.
The Nation is celebrating its 52nd Victory Day with elaborate programmes paying homage to the martyrs who laid down their lives for the country during the Liberation War.
On this glorious day in 1971, Bangladesh was liberated as an independent country after the Pakistani occupation forces surrendered following a bloody nine-month war.
Along with the government, different socio-political, educational and cultural institutions and organisations have chalked out a series of programmes to celebrate the day.
The people of Bangladesh at home and abroad are celebrating the Victory Day, the most joyous day when the country was born at the cost of the supreme sacrifice of three million martyrs and the honour of nearly half a million women.
Read more: Indian war veterans to join Bangladesh’s Victory Day celebrations in Dhaka
Brave Women Freedom Fighters of Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War
The Liberation War of 1971 is a source of great pride for all Bangladeshis. It was a life-changing experience for the nation. Numerous Bengali men and women participated in the war directly and indirectly. However, the contributions of women are not widely discussed. Many dauntless women freedom fighters of Bangladesh fought against the Pakistan army in 1971 with weapons, medical help, food, shelter, and other ways. Today, we remember the known and unknown Bangladeshi women freedom fighters with the utmost respect.
3 Bir Protik Women Freedom Fighters of Bangladesh
During the nine-month-long war against Pakistan (then West Pakistan), Bangladesh's military, paramilitary, and civilians formed Mukti Bahini which is a guerrilla resistance movement. Many brave Bangladeshi women joined Mukti Bahini. Here are three heroic women who worked directly with Mukti Bahini.
Kakon Bibi
Kakon Bibi was a Bangladeshi freedom fighter who also worked as a secret agent during the Liberation War of 1971.
According to some sources her original name is Kaket Hennyata. She was born into a Khasi family from Nayrai Khasia Palli at Meghalaya in India. After her marriage to a Bangladeshi man, her name was changed to Noorjahan Begum. However, she was generally known as Kakon Bibi.
While searching for her lost husband, she was captured and brutally tortured by Pakistani military. Later Kakon Bibi joined the Mukti Bahini, leaving her young daughter at home. She took part in around 20 front battles. She also worked as a war spy.
In the honour of her gallant contribution to the Liberation War, the Government of Bangladesh gave her the Bir Protik title in 1996. The freedom fighter died in 2018.
Read More: Saida Muna Tasneem requests British govt to recognise 1971 killing as genocide
Dr. Sitara Begum
Dr. Sitara Begum was born in Kishoreganj in 1946. She received her MBBS degree from Dhaka Medical College. She joined the Pakistan army in 1970 as a lieutenant in the medical corps.
She, along with her brother Major Abu Taher Mohammad Haider was stationed in Comilla Cantonment. When the Bangladesh Liberation war started, Dr. Sitara Begum and her family moved to Meghalaya. A Mukti Bahini hospital was located inside India to operate during the war. Dr. Sitara then was appointed as the commanding officer of the hospital. After the independence of the country she returned Dhaka.
For her invaluable support to freedom fighters during the Liberation War, Dr. Sitara Begum was also honoured with the Bir Protik title.
Read More: 1971 and the Elderly
Taramon Bibi
Taramon Bibi was born in 1956 at Shankar Madhabpur village in Kurigram. She was the daughter of Abdus Sobhan and Kulsum Bewa. When Taramon joined Mukti Bahini, she was only 14 years old. Though a teenage girl at that time, Taramon fought bravely with weapons against the Pakistani army. She fought in Sector 11.
For her courageous role in resisting the Pakistan military in direct battles, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman awarded her with the Bir Protik title in 1973. As her location was unknown at that time, the award was not handed over to her.
A researcher from Mymensingh discovered Taramon Bibi in 1995. Bangladesh’s then Prime Minister Khaleda Zia finally awarded her on December 19, the same year. The brave hero died on December 1, 2018.
Read More: Jamaat, which was behind killings of intellectuals in 1971, BNP's main associate: Info Minister
Women Who Made Major Contribution to the Liberation War of Bangladesh
Not all women got the scope to fight against the Pakistani army face-to-face with weapons in the front battles. Numerous Bengali women took care of the wounded freedom fighters and supported the fighters with food, shelter, and money. Women were also victims of sexual violence during the war.
Geeta Kar
Geeta Kar, one of the freedom fighters who fought against the Pakistani army in 1971, was born in Rajbari. Geeta was only 15 at the time of the war. The Pakistani army killed her father on May 5, 1971. That incident shocked her so much that she left home – leaving behind her mother and younger siblings. She started her journey to India. She walked nine days and finally reached India and enlisted her name in the Mukti Bahini.
She joined the camp on July 2, 1971, and took training on guerrilla warfare. Like Geeta, more than 200 women in the training group had lost their family members and were eager to take revenge.
Read More: 1971 loss a ‘military failure’, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal says after ex army chief called it ‘political failure’
Shirin Banu Mitil
Shirin was a second-year student at Pabna Edward College in 1971. Getting inspired by Bangabandhu’s speech on March 7, Shirin joined the Liberation War to fight against the Pakistani army.
She had to face numerous problems in direct combat. However, her determination helped her to find an alternative, and finally, she found that by disguising herself as a boy.
Rounak Mohal Dilruba Begum
Although Dilruba Begum did not take part directly in the battle, she played the role of a trainer and prepared six groups of young people for fighting. She inspired lots of people and encouraged them to join the Mukti Bahini to fight for the sake of the country.
Read More: Imran Khan accuses Pak army of recreating 1971-like situation
Ferdousi Priyabhashini
The renowned Bangladeshi sculptor Ferdousi Priyabhashini was brutally abused by the Pakistani army and their collaborators in 1971. She did not take part in the Liberation War directly but made supreme sacrifices.
In one interview, she said that after independence, she faced another ordeal and trauma when society refused to accept her as she was abused during the war. She felt isolated and that isolation led Priyabhashini to take refuge in sculpture.
In 2010, Government of Bangladesh awarded Priyabhashini Independence Day Award.
Rokeya Begum
Rokeya Begum was pregnant when the war broke out. Her husband was a freedom fighter and he brought his fellow fighters to his home.
The local razakars became angry at Rokeya for providing food to the freedom fighters. But Rokeya ignored that and decided to take food to the nearby island where the freedom fighters had camped in.
Read More: 'Recognising the Bangladesh Genocide of 1971': ICSF welcomes US Congress initiative
Bottom Line
Bangladesh earned its independence through the sacrifice of millions of men and women. As we celebrate Victory Day, let’s honour the contribution of women who directly or indirectly participated in the Liberation war of 1971 and made supreme sacrifices.
Bangladesh set to celebrate Victory Day Friday
The nation is set to celebrate the Victory Day, 2022 on Friday, the most joyous day when the country was born at the cost of the supreme sacrifice of three million martyrs and the honour of nearly half a million mothers and sisters, with elaborate programmes.
On this glorious day in 1971, Bangladesh was liberated as an independent country after the Pakistani occupation forces surrendered following a bloody nine-month-long war.
Various programmes will be held on Friday to pay deep homage to the martyrs who laid down their lives for the country during the Liberation War in 1971.
Along with the government, different socio-political, educational and cultural institutions and organisations have chalked out a series of programmes to celebrate the day. Bangladeshis will celebrate the day at home and abroad.
The day’s programme will begin with a 31-gun salute.
Read more: Indian war veterans to join Bangladesh’s Victory Day celebrations in Dhaka
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will pay tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War by placing wreaths at the National Mausoleum in Savar with the rising of sun.
They will be followed by the freedom fighters and their family members, foreign diplomats, leaders of Awami League and different political and social organisations and people from all walks of life.
As part of the day’s programmes, a colourful parade will be held at the National Parade Square in Tejgaon around 10:30 am.
Freedom fighters, members of the Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies will take part in the parade.
President Abdul Hamid will take salutes and inspect the parade as the chief guest while Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will also be present at the parade.
Discussion meetings will be held at the national level on the theme of 'Empowering the spirit of the liberation war and the best use of digital technology in building Sonar Bangla as dreamt by the Father of the Nation.’
Apart from this, reception of brave freedom fighters and martyr family members will be held in the metropolis, districts and upazilas.
The national flag will be hoisted atop government, semi-government, autonomous and private offices across the country.
All children's parks and museums will be open to the public without tickets and cinema halls will screen films based on the Liberation War for free.
On this day, an exhibition of documentary films and posters based on the history and tradition of the Liberation War will be organized at the ‘Swadhinota Stombha’ and the Museum of Suhrawardy Udyan.
Bangladesh embassies abroad will also undertake similar programs highlighting the significance of the day.
The day is a public holiday. National dailies will bring out special supplements on the occasion.
State-owned and private television channels and radios will broadcast month- long special programmes highlighting the significance of the Liberation War.
Receptions will be accorded to the freedom fighters and family members of martyrs at city, district and upazila levels.
Destitute children will be allowed to visit the children park in the capital on the day free of cost. Improved diets will be served in jails, hospitals, orphanages across the country.
Meanwhile, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on the occasion.
In his message, the President has greeted the country’s people living at home and abroad on the occasion of the Victory Day.
Read more: Roads to avoid on Victory Day
He recalled with profound respect the greatest Bangalee of all time Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
“I remember with gratitude the four national leaders and the people of all walks of life, including the heroic freedom fighters, the organisers and supporters of the Liberation War, foreign friends, war-wounded individuals and members of the martyrs' families, who directly and indirectly contributed to our victory.”
Stating that the aims of the independence were to attain political sovereignty as well as people’s economic emancipation, the President said, “We shall have to give institutional shape to democracy in order to deliver the benefits of independence at people's doorstep.”
He said the political parties will have to nurture the culture of mutual respect and tolerance of others’ opinions. “Let us contribute more from our respective position in implementing the spirit and values of War of Liberation and take the nation towards the path of development and prosperity.”
In her message, the Prime Minister said the establishment of the nation-state 'Bangladesh' through the victory of the War of Liberation on 16 December 1971 was the greatest achievement of the Bangalee nation.
Responding to the clarion call of the Greatest Bangalee of all time, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Bangalee nation achieved the ultimate victory on this day in 1971 after 23 years of intense political struggle and nine months of blood-shedding War of Liberation, said the PM.
She said, “Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib elevated Bangladesh to a 'least developed' country, and we took the motherland to the row of a 'developing' state on the auspicious occasion of 'Mujib Year' and the Golden Jubilee of our victory. Everything we have achieved in the last 51 years since our Independence has been attained by the Father of the Nation and the Awami League.”
She also hoped that this trend of development will continue, Bangladesh will be established as a hunger-poverty-free and developed- prosperous country by 2041 as dreamt by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
She urged all to spread the spirit of the great Liberation War from generation to generation- “let this be our pledge on this victory.”
Martyred Intellectuals Day on Wednesday
The nation is set to observe the Martyred Intellectuals Day on Wednesday to commemorate the intellectuals killed systematically by Pakistan occupation forces and their local collaborators at the fag-end of the Liberation War in 1971.
On this day in 1971, the country’s renowned academicians, doctors, engineers, journalists, artists, teachers and other eminent personalities were dragged out of their homes, blindfolded and taken to unknown places and then brutally tortured and murdered.
Their bodies were later dumped at Rayerbazar, Mirpur and some other killing fields in the capital.
Sensing an imminent defeat, the Pakistani forces and their local collaborators like Al-Badr, Al-Shams and Razakar committed the cold-blooded mass murders aiming to annihilate the country's intelligentsia and cripple emerging Bangladesh intellectually.
Read more: Bangladesh observing Martyred Intellectuals Day
Among the martyred intellectuals are Prof Munier Chowdhury, Dr Alim Chowdhury, Prof Muniruzzaman, Dr Fazle Rabbi, Sirajuddin Hossain, Shahidullah Kaiser, Prof GC Dev, JC Guha Thakurta, Prof Santosh Bhattacharya, Mofazzal Haider Chowdhury, journalists Khandaker Abu Taleb, Nizamuddin Ahmed, SA Mannan (Ladu Bhai), ANM Golam Mustafa, Syed Nazmul Haq and Selina Parvin.
The government has chalked out elaborate programmes to commemorate the December 14 tragedy.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on this occasion.
President Hamid in a message said, “I call upon all to play an effective role from their respective position to build ‘Sonar Bangla’ imbued with the sacrifice of the Martyred Intellectuals and spirit of the Liberation War.”
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message urged all irrespective of party affiliation to get united against the killers of 1971, war criminal Jamaat, fundamentalists and perform their duties from their respective positions to continue the development spree of the country by resisting all conspiracies of anti-democratic forces.
Read more: Nation set to observe Martyred Intellectuals Day Tuesday
Bangladesh Television and private television channels will broadcast special programmes highlighting the significance of the day.
Concert for Bangladesh made the world aware of Liberation War: FM
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen Friday said that the historic ‘Concert for Bangladesh’, the charity event organised during the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh, helped spread the news to the world about the combat's real scenario.
"During the Liberation War, many foreigners and their countries supported us and helped us with financial assistance, and one such exceptional example was the 'Concert for Bangladesh' organised in New York in 1971. Joined by 40,000 people, that concert eventually spread the name of Bangladesh to the world and let people know the actual scenario," he said.
Read: Genocide against Rohingya: Bangladesh welcomes ICJ's rejection of Myanmar claims
The FM shared his remarks at a discussion programme titled 'The Concert for Bangladesh and Contribution of Foreign Friends in the Liberation War' which was organised at the premiere of the documentary ‘Ekti Desh-er Jonno Gaan’ (Songs for a Country), directed by journalist-writer Shamim Al Amin, at the Liberation War Museum in the capital on Friday.
Jointly organised by the world-famous Indian sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar and English singer-songwriter and the iconic English rock band ‘The Beatles’ lead guitarist George Harrison at the historic Maddison Square Garden in New York on August 1, 1971, the concert got its befitting tribute in the documentary, Momen said at the event.
Crimes against humanity: Fugitive death row convict held in city
A fugitive convict, who was sentenced to death by the International Crimes Tribunal for committing crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971, has been detained from the city’s Kalabagan area, said Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) on Sunday.
The death row convict is AK Aminul Haque alias Rajab Ali, 69, of Kishoreganj.
Read:1994 assassination attempt: Fugitive death row convict held in city
According to a media release from Rab Headquarters, a team of Rab’s intelligence force and Rab-2 detained Rajab Ali after conducting a drive in the city’s Kalabagan area on Saturday night.
On Novenber 5 in 2018, the International Crimes Tribunal sentenced Rajab Ali to death for his involvement in the crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War.
He was found guilty of murder, looting, arson, torture and kidnapping in Kishoreganj, Bhairab, Brahmanbaria and Habiganj in 1971.
He also formed 'Al -Badr' forces in the area to assist the Pakistani army in Bhairab and served as the commander of Kishoreganj district.
On December 18 in1971, Rajab Ali surrendered to the Joint Forces.
In 1972, five cases were filed against him at Ashtagram police station. He was sentenced to 40 years jail in these cases. But he was released from Dhaka Central Jail in 1982 as he got presidential clemency after serving jail term for only 10 years.
Read:Ramna Batamul carnage: Fugitive death row convict held in Kishoreganj
Later, he fled to a country in the Middle East and then went to Pakistan several times. In 1997, Rajab came to Dhaka again.
On December 27 in 2015, the investigating agency submitted the chargesheet against Rajab Ali to the International Crimes Tribunal and since then he remained fugitive.
Muktijoddha Council Bill placed in parliament
The Jatiya Muktijoddha Council will prepare a list of MNAs and MPAs - elected in the 1970 general elections – who took the side of Pakistani occupation forces during the Liberation War.
It will also include the names of those persons who were elected as MNA and MPAs in the by-elections in seat declared vacant by the then Pakistani government as the elected public representatives took part in the Liberation War.
Jatiya Muktijoddha Council Will recommend to the government to publish the lists as gazette.
Also read: PM in JS: Measures taken to make next parliamentary polls more acceptable
Jatiya Muktijoddha Council has been given extra responsibilities in the report of Jatiya Muktijoddha Council Bill 2022 which was submitted in Parliament on Monday.
Chairman of the Committee Shahjahan Khan placed the report.
As per the Jatiya Muktijoddha Council Bill that was submitted on June 5 the council initially was supposed to prepare the list of Razakars, Al Badr and Al Shams, Mujahid force and Peace Committee members who opposed the independence of the country and were involved in various heinous acts in collaboration with the Pakistani occupational troops.
As per the Bill, there will be a council called Jatiya Muktijoddha Council whose head office will be in Dhaka. It can set up branches anywhere in the country taking prior permission from the government.
Also read: Parliamentary watchdog recommends for committee to monitor flood situation
Liberation War Affairs minister will be the chairman of the council. If there is any state minister or deputy minister of the ministry he or she will be the senior vice chairpersons. Secretary of the ministry will be vice chairperson, eight nominated persons by the chief advisor of the advisory council, the prime minister and the director general of the advisory council.
The council will hold at least one meeting every two months.
One of the main tasks of the Council will be preparation of the lists of Razakars, Al Badars and Al Shams who were involved in anti-Liberation activities including killing, raping, arson or opposed Liberation War directly or indirectly.
The advisory council will be headed by the prime minister. The other members of the advisory council will be Liberation War Affairs minister or state minister or deputy minister, five nominated persons by the chief advisor and secretary of the Liberation War Affairs Ministry.
The tenure of the advisory council will be three years.
'JK 1971' official teaser released
The official teaser of Fakhrul Arefeen Khan's film "JK 1971," Bangladesh's first English language movie on the 1971 Liberation War, was released online Saturday.
The 1 minute 16 second teaser was released on Gorai Film's YouTube channel and Facebook page.
Based on a true incident, the film features the real-life story of Jean Kay, a young Frenchman, who hijacked a plane of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) just after the vehicle took off on December 3, 1971, in Paris, demanding 20 tonnes of emergency child medicine for Bangladeshi refugees during the Liberation War.
"This is really an exciting moment for us as we recently completed our post-production work. The audience reaction after the release of the teaser tells us that we need to bring this film to theatres as soon as possible," Arefeen told UNB.
Also, the "Bhubon Majhi" and "Gondi" director said the official trailer will be released in September this year, and the movie might hit the theatres in December.
Co-produced by Gorai Films and Tanvir A Mishuk, the film features American Francisco Raymond, West Bengal's Sabyasachi Chakraborty, Sourav Shuvro Das, Indrajit Mazumder; Russian actors Deria Gvrusenko, Nikolai Novominaski, and 36 foreign artists from the US, UK, and Spain.
Renowned scriptwriter Masum Reza and director Arefeen worked on the screenplay of the film.
Also read: 'Rickshaw Girl' continues to be screened in US
India's support during 1971 Liberation War written in blood: Hasan Mahmud
Highlighting the growing Dhaka-Delhi ties, Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Sunday said how India and its people had supported Bangladesh during the 1971 Liberation War is written in blood.
While launching the Bangladesh Youth Delegation 2022 programme with Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram Kumar Doraiswami at the high commission in Dhaka, Hasan said the relations between the two countries reached new heights under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.
The information minister emphasised strengthening people-to-people relations and hoped that such a programme will play an important role.
Doraiswami said the youth delegation programme will help the young people know each other and take the relationship forward to the next generation.
Also read: India resumes Bangladesh Youth Delegation programme MAY 15, 2022
The programme this time will be more inclusive and it is their best effort to reach out to the young people across Bangladesh and motivate them to become ambassadors of Bangladesh and ambassadors of the two countries' friendship, he added.