Dhaka University (DU) celebrated 40 years of hoisting the national flag on its campus yesterday with a vow to fight for ensuring the immediate trial of war criminals and building a non-communal Bangladesh.

On March 2, 1971, the then vice-president of Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) ASM Abdur Rab hoisted the national flag of independent Bangladesh on behalf of Swadhin Bangla Chhatra Sangram Parishad atop the DU Arts Building.

Jayaddhani, a campus-based cultural group, organised the programme to celebrate the date in commemoration of those wartime turbulent days in 1971.

Around 500 students gathered in front of the Arts Building where they took an oath of making the country non-communal and free from war criminals based on the spirit of theliberationwar.

Former vice-president (VP) of Ducsu Mahfuza Khanam administered the oath.

Popular songs of the liberation war, including 'Joy Bangla', 'Teer Hara Aei Dheuer Sagar' and 'Karar Oi Louha

Kopat' were rendered by the members of the organisation.

Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra singer Rathindranath Roy also sang at the programme.

Addressing the programme, DU Vice Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique said students were the pioneers in the liberation war, now they will have to contribute to building a modern Bangladesh.

He said violence on the campuses might have been a plot to destroy the traditional student politics.

Former Ducsu VP Mujahidul Islam Selim, also general secretary of Communist Party of Bangladesh, said violence erupts on the campuses due to lack of the exercise of student politics there.

Pro-VC Prof Harun-or-Rashid, Treasurer Prof Mizanur Rahman, Awami League leader Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Dhaka University Teachers Association President Prof Khondaker Bazlul Haque also spoke at the programme.

Nazmul Hossain, a master's student of Mass Communication and Journalism department, moderated the programme.