Bangladesh was born as an independent country on December 16 in 1971 after the Pakistani occupation forces surrendered after a nine-month bloody war. The new nation emerged through the sacrifice of three million freedom-loving Bangalees and the honour of 200,000 women.
The missions celebrated the day with elaborate programmes, including hoisting of the national flag, discussion meetings and cultural functions.
Special prayers were offered seeking divine blessings for the martyrs of the Liberation War, Bangabandhu and his family members killed along with him on the tragic night of August 15, 1975.
Messages from President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and State Minister for Foreign Affairs M ShahriarAlam were read out by heads and officials of the missions, according to messages received here.
Discussants fondly remembered the supreme sacrifices the freedom fighters had made at the call of Bangabandhu against the brutal Pakistani soldiers who carried out one of the history's worst genocides, killing three million unarmed civilians.
Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi gratefully recalled the support India had extended during Bangladesh’s struggle for freedom and the supreme sacrifices made by Indian soldiers who fought alongside the freedom fighters.
India had also sheltered an estimated 10 million Bangalees who were forced to seek refuge in the neighbouring country.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Syed Muazzem Ali attended the Victory Day programme in Kolkata, according to Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi.
The High Commission will organise a cultural evening on Monday marking the Victory Day.
Bangladesh High Commission in Islamabad and Deputy High Commission in Karachi also celebrated the day with great enthusiasm and festivity.
A daylong programme was held on the Chancery premises with the participation of the expatriate Bangladesh community in Islamabad and the officers and staff members of the High Commission.
The Chancery Building and premises were nicely adorned with miniature Bangladesh national flag, pictures of the Birsreshtho, Victory Day posters and other decorative items, according to Bangladesh High Commission in Islamabad.
High Commissioner Tarik Ahsan paid rich tributes to the memories of Bangabandhu at whose call, inspiration and moral leadership people from all walks of life joined the War of Liberation.
He termed the victory as the victory of moral force against military aggression, of justice against injustice and of human values against feudal mentality.
A video documentary on the Liberation War and the glorious victory was screened and a cultural segment, participated by the officials of the High Commission, Bangladeshi children and expatriate Bangladeshis living in Islamabad, was organised.
The Bangladesh missions in Tokyo, Seoul, Yangon, Hanoi, Riyadh and Bangladesh High Commission in Singapore also celebrated the day with due fervour and festivity.
Bangladesh High Commissioner in Singapore Md Mustafizur Rahman highlighted, with deep reverence and gratitude, the great contribution of the Father of the Nation to lead and inspire the Bangalees to fight against the Pakistani juntas and local collaborators that ultimately resulted in the victory on December 16, 1971 following a bloodshed war of nine months.
Bangladesh Ambassador in Seoul Abida Islam urged the expatriate Bangladeshis to maintain the current achievement by discharging their duties and responsibilities towards motherland.
Meanwhile, heads of foreign missions stationed in Dhaka also joined the Victory Day celebrations in the city.
“Celebrating Bangladesh Victory Day wearing the national colours, with British High Commissioner Alison Blake,” European Union (EU) Ambassador in Dhaka RensjeTeerink said sharing a photo on her Facebook page on Sunday afternoon.
British High Commissioner in Dhaka Alison Blake also conveyed greetings and best wishes to everyone on the Victory Day.
She attended different events commemorating Bangladesh's Victory Day on behalf of the British High Commission, Dhaka.