Dhaka [Bangladesh], Dec. 16 : Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday paid tributes to those killed in the 1971 Liberation War by placing a wreath at the National Memorial, marking the 46th Victory Day.
A contingent drawn from Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh Air Force also presented arms on the occasion when bugles played the Last Post.
Ministers, leader of the opposition in Parliament, state ministers, chiefs of the three services, members of parliament, freedom fighters, diplomats, representatives of different development partners and high civil and military officials, among others, were present at the ceremony.
Victory Day marks the emergence of Bangladesh as an independent, sovereign country in 1971 and its secession as East Pakistan from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, when Pakistani occupation forces were defeated after a nine-month war.
The Eastern Commander of Pakistan Army, Lt. Gen. Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, and his 93,000 soldiers surrendered to the allied forces of freedom fighters and Indian Army at Ramna Racecourse, now Suhrawardy Udyan, in Dhaka.
One of the most violent wars of the 20th century, it witnessed large-scale atrocities, the exodus of 10 million refugees and the killing of three million people.
Source: ANI
