16 December is our Victory Day

16 December is our Victory Day

16 December, our Victory Day, the greatest achievement for the people of Bangladesh, is celebrated every year in the country with great enthusiasm and fervour. It is a national holiday in Bangladesh and is one of the biggest state festivals. On this day in 1971, the Pakistani Army surrendered to the Indo-Bangladeshi High command in Dhaka, ending the 9 month – long Liberation War. General AAK Niazi, the Commanding officer of the Pakistani Armed Forces located in East Pakistan, surrendered his forces to Lt. Gen. Jagjit Singh Aurora, the Allied forces commander. The surrender took place at the Ramna Race course in Dacca on December 16, 1971. Air Commodore A. K. Khandker, Deputy Commander –in –Chief of the Bangladesh Armed Forces, and Lieutenant General J F R Jacob of the Indian Eastern Command, acted as witnesses to the surrender.

The celebration of victory Day has been continuing since 1972. Every year, early in the morning the President and the Prime Minister on behalf of nation place wreaths at Jatiyo Smriti Soudho, the National Memorial at Savar near Dhaka, to commemorate the millions of martyrs who laid down their lives so that we may stand upright, in honour and dignity, amongst the nations of the world. The ritual of the celebration gradually obtained a distinctive character with a number of similar elements: placing floral wreaths by the leader of the opposition, diplomats, political parties, socio- cultural organizations, freedom fighters and people from all walks of life, Military Parade by Bangladesh Armed Forces at National Parade Ground, ceremonial meetings, speeches, lectures, receptions and fireworks. The Victory Day in Bangladesh is joyous celebration in which popular cultural programmes also play a great role. TV and radio stations broadcast special programs and patriotic songs in honour of Victory Day. The main streets are decorated with national flags. Different political parties and socio- cultural organizations undertake programs to mark the day in a befitting manner.