The grateful nation on Thursday celebrated the 51st Victory Day by paying deep homage to the martyrs of the Liberation War and taking an oath to build the country as a developed, prosperous and non-communal 'Sonar Bangla'.

Imbued with the spirit of the Liberation War and new energy, people from all walks of life joined various programmes paying profound tribute to the martyrs who laid down their lives for the country during the Liberation War 50 years back.

After a bloodstained nine-month-long war and at the cost of the supreme sacrifice of three million martyrs and the honour of nearly half a million mothers and sisters, Bangladesh finally gained its freedom as an independent country on this glorious day, December 16, 1971 with the surrender of Pakistani occupation forces.

Along with the government, different socio-political, educational and cultural institutions and organisations chalked out a series of programmes to celebrate the day. Bangladeshis at home and abroad also celebrated the day.

This year’s Victory Day has special significance as it coincided with the celebrations of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of the country's independence.

The day’s programme began with a 31-gun salute.

President Abdul Hamid led the nation in the celebration of the great day by placing a wreath at the National Memorial in Savar paying homage to the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War. 

The head of state first placed the wreath at the altar of the National Memorial around 6.30am, marking the Victory Day, followed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

After placing the wreath, President Hamid stood in solemn silence for a while as a mark of deep respect to the memories of the martyrs of the Liberation War. The President also signed the visitors’ book kept on the memorial premises.

Later, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War by placing wreaths at the National Memorial. Sheikh Hasina placed floral wreaths at the altar of the memorial around 6:34 am to pay homage to the great heroes of the country.

Freedom fighters and their family members, foreign diplomats, leaders of Awami League, BNP and different other political and social organisations and people from all walks of life also placed wreaths at the National Memorial paying tributes to the martyrs.

The Prime Minister also placed a wreath at the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Bangabandhu Bhaban in the city’s Dhanmondi-32 area.

As part of the day’s programmes, a colourful parade was held at the National Parade Square in Tejgaon around 10:30 am.

President Abdul Hamid took salutes and inspected the parade as the chief guest while Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was also present at the parade.

Freedom fighters, members of the Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies took part in the parade.

Later, Sheikh Hasina released a memorial postal stamp at Ganobhaban on the occasion of the 51st Victory Day.

She also unveiled a logo inscribed with ‘Mujib’s Bangladesh,’ the brand name of Bangladesh Tourism there and released another memorial postal stamp on the occasion of the birth centenary and the Golden Jubilee celebrations.

A two-day programme titled “The Greatest Hero of the Glorious Victory” began today (Thursday) marking the Victory Day along with the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Golden Jubilee of the country’s independence at the South Plaza of the National Parliament.

President Abdul Hamid inaugurated the two-day special programme.

Hamid delivered his speech as the chief guest in the programme while Indian President Ram Nath Kovind was present as the Guest of Honour at the South Plaza of Bangladesh National Parliament in the evening.