Bangladesh observes Victory Day and breaks with tradition

DHAKA

Bangladesh is celebrating its 43rd victory day without the traditional military parade at parade ground in Dhaka and also for the first time European Union Envoys did not attend the early hours Bangladeshi National Victory day celebration at the National Mausoleum at Savar on December 16.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Shekh Hasina along with the opposition leader and BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia paid tribute to martyrs of the liberation war by placing wreaths at the National Mausoleum at Savar in Dhaka this morning.

For the first time, envoys of the European Union countries did not attend the victory day celebration at National Mausoleum at Savar in Dhaka.

Earlier EU envoy in Dhaka William Hanna informed on Sunday Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Ministry that they could not attend government victory day program due to their concerns with some meeting on the constant political unrest of Bangladesh. Informed sources said that they are asking from Brussels to make a report on Bangladesh current political turmoil and deadlock.

The day is public holiday; the national flag is kept hoisted atop of the government, semi government and autonomous institutions across the country.

Ruling party Awami League, main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami(BJI) and other political and socio cultural organizations have taken different and elaborate program to celebrate the day.

But BJI has organized a discussion meeting on victory day in secret in Dhaka. BJI’s students front Islami Chatra Shibir organized a rally in sudden in Dhaka city on Monday.

By Ferdous Ahmad Bhuiyan -

englishnews@aa.com.tr