Dhaka: Bangladesh celebrated the 46th Victory Day on Friday commemorating its glorious victory in the nine-month bloody war against the Pakistani occupation forces in 1971 with a pledge to forge a unity to make the country prosperous and developed one.

The celebrations marked with tens of thousands of people visiting and placing flowers at the National Memorial at suburban Savar and other war monuments across the country to pay their glowing tributes to the heroic sons and daughters of the soil who laid down their lives to attain the independence of their beloved mother land.

Streets swarmed with the enthusiastic people carrying the national flag, banners, wreaths, head bands and banners of different political, social, cultural and professional organisations inscribed with the slogans of the Victory Day and with many draped in green and red.

The day was heralded with a 31-gun salute at dawn.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina led the nation in paying homage to the 30 lakh martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the country, by placing wraths on the altar, as army bugles played the last post. 

First the President and then the Prime Minister placed wreaths in the morning around 6:34am and paid their homage to the Liberation war heroes.

They stood there in solemn silence for some time as a mark of respect to the great sons of the soil.

Later, flanked by central leaders of the party, Sheikh Hasina as the President of Bangladesh Awami League also laid another wreath at the National Monument.

Besides, Sheikh Hasina paid homage to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing a wreath at his portrait in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi here in the morning on the occasion. 

Leader of the Opposition in parliament Raushan Ershad and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia also placed wreaths at the National Mausoleum paying their tributes to the martyred freedom fighters.

The national flag was hoisted atop all government and private buildings, while the government and semi-government buildings and other public places were illuminated and roads and islands were decorated with flags and festoons in all cities of the country on the occasion.

The day was a public holiday. Different political parties, socio-cultural organisations and educational institutions observed the day with various programmes.

The national flag was hoisted atop all government and private buildings, while the government and semi-government buildings and other public places were illuminated and roads and islands decorated with flags and festoons in all cities of the country on the occasion.

On this day in 1971, the chief of the Pakistani occupation forces, Gen AAK Niazi, along with his 93,000 Pakistani tro-ops, surrendered at the then Ramna Racecourse, now Suhrawardy Udyan, in Dhaka following a miserable defeat to the joint forces of Mukti Bahini and Mitra Bahini after the nine-month Liberation War. 

To mark the day, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina released five commemorative stamps, two first-day covers, two data cards and a souvenir at her official residence Ganobhbaban.

President Abdul Hamid also inspected parade at the National Parade Ground and took salute marking the Day.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina attended the parade organised and conducted by Nine Infantry Division of Bangladesh Army.

President Hamid accompanied by parade commander Maj Gen Waker- Uz- Zaman inspected the Victory Day Parade riding on an open jeep and took salute.

President Abdul Hamid and his wife Rashida Khanom hosted a reception at Bangabhaban marking the country's 46 th Victory Day.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina joined the reception at the lawn of the President's House.

Valiant freedom fighters and family members of Birshreshtha Gallantry Award attended the Victory Day reception.

The glorious 46th victory day was celebrated observed at Dhaka University with much enthusiasm amid elaborate programmes, including cultural ones.

Special prayers offered in mosques, temples, churches, pagodas and other places of worship seeking divine blessings for the peace and progress of the country. 

National dailies brought out supplements, while state-owned and private televisions and radios broadcast special programmes highlighting the significance of the day.

The country’s different political parties, including Awami League, BNP, Jatiya Party, JSD, CPB, Workers Party, Gono Forum and their associate bodies celebrated the day with elaborate programmes.

Talking to reporters after placing wreaths at the monument of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader urged all pro-liberation forces to get united to build a developed and prosperous Bangladesh.