The 50th Victory Day was celebrated on Wednesday in Bangladesh missions abroad amid great festivity and fervour remembering with gratitude millions of freedom fighters who embraced martyrdom to liberate Bangladesh from the Pakistani occupation forces in 1971.

Homage was paid to the martyred freedom fighters and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman before the beginning of the day-long programmes, according to messages received here from Bangladesh missions abroad.

The missions celebrated the day with elaborate programmes, including hoisting of the national flag, discussion meetings, cultural functions and offering special prayers seeking divine blessings for the martyrs of the Liberation War.

Besides, messages from president Abdul Hamid, prime minister Sheikh Hasina, foreign minister A K Abdul Momen and state minister for foreign affairs M Shahriar Alam were read out by heads and officials of the missions.

Discussants fondly remembered the supreme sacrifices that the freedom fighters had made at the call of founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman against the brutal Pakistani soldiers who carried out one of the history’s worst genocides, killing three million unarmed civilians.

Bangladesh deputy high commission in New Delhi gratefully recalled the support which India had extended during Bangladesh’s struggle for freedom and the supreme sacrifices made by Indian soldiers who fought alongside the freedom fighters.

High commissioner Muhammad Imran praised prime minister Sheikh Hasina for her dynamic and visionary leadership in the remarkable transformation of Bangladesh into a middle-income country and said in its 50-year journey, Bangladesh has built a vibrant economy, a stable democracy and secular society.

Indian deputy high commission in Mumbai also organised day-long programme where three Indian soldiers who fought during Liberation War recalled their memory while a short documentary film titled ‘Bangabandhu: Forever in our Hearts’ was screened on the occasion.

While addressing, Bangladesh deputy high commissioner to Mumbai Md Lutfar Rahman urged all to work consciously for the advancement and prosperity of the country following the ideology of Mujib and to brighten the image of Bangladesh in abroad.

A daylong programme was held on the Chancery premises with the participation of the expatriate Bangladesh community in Islamabad and the officers and staff members of the high commission while the Chancery building and premises were nicely adorned with miniature Bangladesh national flag, pictures of the Birsreshtho, Victory Day posters and other decorative items.

High commissioner Ruhul Alam Siddique paid rich tributes to the memories of founding president Mujib at whose call, inspiration and moral leadership people from all walks of life joined the War of Liberation, according to Bangladesh high commission in Islamabad.

Two separate display corners featuring with photos, posters, books on Mujib and Liberation War were inaugurated today by the high commission.

Bangladesh high commission in Kuala Lumpur celebrated the day with different programmes including screening a documentary titled ‘Immortal Bangabandhu’, discussion and other programmes while expatriate Bangladeshis joined the events with Facebook live.

To celebrate the day, Bangladesh high commission in Tokyo, Japan organised different programmes including hoisting of the national flag, holding a virtual discussion, playing the national anthem and offering special prayers.

In the discussion, participated by more than hundred expatriate Bangladeshis, Bangladesh high commissioner to Japan Shahabuddin Ahmed recalled martyrs and urged all to maintain the current achievement of the country, achieved under the dynamic leadership of prime minister Sheikh Hasina, as Bangladesh is known in the world as the ‘Role model of development’.

Bangladesh high commission to Sri Lanka also celebrated the day with great enthusiasm and festivity by organising day-long programme which includes placing floral wreath at Mujib’s portrait, organising discussion and poem reciting event on Mujib and Liberation War.

In the discussion, Bangladesh high commissioner to Sri Lanka Tarek Md Arifulislam highlighted, with deep reverence and gratitude, the great contribution of Mujib to lead and inspire the Bangalees to fight against the Pakistani juntas and local collaborators that ultimately resulted in the victory on December 16, 1971, following a bloodshed war of nine months.

The Bangladesh missions in Athens and Bangladesh embassy in Hanoi and Berlin also celebrated the day with due fervour and festivity.