Celebrating the 54th Victory Day of the country, the cultural institutions and organizations initiated multiple cultural events across the nation, joined by people from all walks of life.
While the main attraction of this year was the mega concert from Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP’s new social and cultural organization ‘Shobar Agey Bangladesh’s inaugural title concert featuring a star-studded line-up at the capital’s Manik Mia Avenue, cultural organizations namely Chhayanaut, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and Bangla Academy were also able to draw a large number of audiences at their multiple events.
To commemorate Victory Day, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) chalked out a daylong event that included the inauguration of the month-long exhibition "2024: Oi Notuner Keton Ure." Posters, drawings, pictures, movies, and cartoons that depict many facets of the July revolt are on display in this exhibition, which was inaugurated by Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki as the chief guest.
Dr Syed Jamil Ahmed, Director General of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, presided over the event alongside the special guest of the event Siraj Uddin, a student and businessman injured in the July Revolution. Mustafa Zaman, Director of the BSA Fine Arts Department, moderated the event.
This exhibition is an initial attempt to build a multi-dimensional archive by showcasing documentary evidence of the movement in photographs, including the graffiti and mural movement after the student uprising and the fall of the dictatorship.
Prior to that, the cultural ceremony marking the day began at 6 pm at the academy's Nandanmancha. Organized by the academy's Music, Dance and Recitation department, the ceremony was presided over by BSA DG Syed Jamil Ahmed while the welcome speech was delivered by Nava Mehjabeen Rahman, Director of the Music, Dance and Recitation department.
The ceremony featured several special group dance performances, solo and group musical and instrumental performances, poetry recitations and more, performed by BSA artists. In addition to the enthralling band performances by Artcell and Lalon, renowned vocalist Ferdous Ara delivered a unique solo musical performance. The Victory Day events are part of BSA’s month-long victory festivities.
Chhayanaut’s Victory Festival began in front of the Chhayanaut Sangskriti Bhaban in the capital’s Dhanmondi, in which the organizers, including Executive President Dr Sarwar Ali, raised the national flag in unison with the national anthem, remembering the momentous occasion in 1971 when the Pakistani army bowed its head to the brave Bengali freedom fighters.
In the three-part event, the vocal arts institution Kanthashilan recited poetry and the children of Nalanda High School, a culture-integrated general education institution, performed the song "Shwadhinatar Abhijatra,” while Chhayanaut artists performed the lyrical composition "Aparajeyo Bengali." The event was broadcast on Chhayanaut's YouTube channel and Facebook page.
Bangla Academy placed a floral wreath at the National Memorial in Savar on December 16 early morning, led by Director General Professor Mohammad Azam, paying homage to the memories of the heroic martyrs of the Liberation War.
A solo lecture program was organized at the Kobi Shamsur Rahman Seminar Room of Bangla Academy at 4pm. Academy Director General Prof Mohammad Azam delivered the welcome address, while eminent intellectual Farhad Mazhar delivered the keynote speech, and Bangla Academy President Professor Abul Kashem Fazlul Haque presided over the event.
Besides these organizations, several other government and private entities also commemorated the day with vibrant festivities. Television channels, radio stations, and online-based platforms also celebrated the day with events commemorating the essence of the Liberation War and the redefined independence, courtesy of the 2024 July Uprising.