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Victory Day Celebrated

Fresh vows to work for a prosperous nation

Staff Correspondent
The nation yesterday celebrated the 34th Victory Day paying glowing tributes to the heroes of the Liberation War and taking fresh vows to work for a prosperous future.
"Our fight is to eliminate terrorism and corruption, give democracy a strong footing, alleviate poverty and hunger, remove ill-health, illiteracy and malnutrition, and advance the process of development and production," Prime Minister Khaleda Zia told a chil-
dren's rally organised to mark the day.
"For this we need a stable environment. We will have to win this battle, because this struggle is the extended form of our great LiberationWar," she said.
On December 16, 1971, the Pakistani occupation forces surrendered to the joint command of Indian Army and Bangladeshi freedom fighters at the then Race Course (now Suhrawardy Udyan) Maidan in Dhaka after a ninemonth bloody war for independence of the country.
The day commenced with a 31-gun salute to the Liberation War heroes fired from the old airport ground. National flags were hoisted atop all government, semi-govemment and other Important establishments.
Most of the government buildings, hotels and high-rise structures were illuminated with lights while the main streets of the capital wore a festivelookwith national flags flying at almost all the corners.
Thousands of people from different walks of life assembled at the
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National Memorial at Savar queuing since early morning amid tight ecurity to pay homage to the freedom fighters. By noon the ground in front of the memorial became covered in asea of flowers.
President lajuddin Ahmed and Prime Minister Khaleda Zia placed floral wreaths separately at the altar of the memorial at 630 am and 6:35am and stood in solemn silence in respect to the martyrs.
. Speaker Jamiruddin Sircar, Chief /listice Syed JR Muddassir Husain, cabinet members, diplomats, chiefs of the three armed services, freedom Stars, and civil and military offi-twerepresenL
, Khaleda, accompanied by senior members of the ruling coalition including Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Motiur Rahman Nizami, placed another crown of flowers at the altar as the chairperson of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Senior BNP leaders including Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan. Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman, Health Minister Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain, Law Minister Moudud Ahmed and Information Minister Ririqul Islam accompanied het;
Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Sheikh Hasina placed a wreath at 8:30am. Hasina, also the president of main opposition Awami league, placed another wreath as the party chief. She was accompanied by central AL leaders including Abdul Jalil, Ziliur Raiunan, Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Abdur Razzak. Motia Chowdhury and Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim.
Former president and chief of Qikalpa Dhara Bangladesh Badruddoza Chowdhury, Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain ind Krishak Srarnik Janata League chief Kader Siddiqui placed floral wreathsataround 10:40am.
The other political parties that placed wreadis include Communist Party of Bangladesh, Jatiya Party (Ershad), Workers Party of Bangladesh. left-leaning 11-party alliance, and both factions of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal and Bangladesh SamajtantrikDaL
: Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, Eadesh Chhatra League and students' organisations offered homage at the memorial at around 11:00am.
Bangladesh Supreme Court Bar Association. Muktijoddha Sangsad, Muktijoddha Kalyan TYust, individual freedom fighters, educational institutions, various student bodies.
socio-cultural organisations and non-governmental organisations, and associations of teachers, officers and employees of different universities also placed floral wreaths.
Among others who placed wreaths at the memorial were vice chancellors of different varsities, Bangladesh Bar Council. Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, Dhaka Reporters Unity. Shilpakala Academy, National Museum. Centre for Rehabilitation of the Paralysed, Jatiyatabadi Muktijuddher Prajanma, Bangladesh Hindu Parisad, Bangla Academy, Mohfla Parisad, Nazrul Institute and Dhaka Officers Club.
President fajuddin Ahmed and his wife hosted a reception at the Banga Bhaban in the afternoon attended by cabinet ministers, diplomats, judges, chiefs of army, navy and the air force, leaders of various political parties and membersofparliament.
The ruling coalition leader, BNP, celebrated the Victory Day with hoisting of national and party flags at the party offices across the country and offering wreaths at the graveyard of Ziaur Rahman in the morning The BNP also brought out a victory pioces-sion from Pal tan area in the capital.
Thousands of leaders and activists of the AL thronged the Muktangon area coming in processions from far and wideof the capital. From there they took out a colourful procession that ended at Russell Square in Dhanmondl.
Jatiya Oikya Mancha held a discussion at 4:00pm at its central office with Dr Kamal Hossain In the chair.
BNP's cultural wing Jatiyatabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha held a discussion meeting and organised an attraedve music concert at Raju Vashkarja on Dhaka University campus.
About 100,000 spectators gathered at a concert organised by BAMBA, a body of local musical bands.
Sammilito Sangskritik Jote held a rally at the Central Shaheed Minor and brought out a colourful victory rally from there at 9:30am.
Liberation War Museum concluded its weeklong Victory Day celebrations yesterday with a recitation programme by children and juveniles and a cultural programme in the evening.
Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) organised a Victory Fair at its headquarters in city's Motijheel area. Forty stalls showcased hand-made crafts at the fair.