by Anwar A Khan
Bangladesh will commemorate 47 years since our victory over Pakistan’s military regime on the16th day of December It sometimes seems to me that all people and freedom fighters, who never returned from bloody battlefields, do not lie in the ground where they
Bangladeshis a land of countless festivals, in stride with the cycle of the seasons. These proceed with sowings and harvesting and around them have grown legends
December
16 is our Victory Day. We have lost in nostalgia for those horrible months of
1971 and are now enjoying the sunshine of our independence on this bright
morning. The Victory Day is Bangladesh's most important secular holiday and a
key element of the national identity, reflecting the nation's enormous
suffering and honouring millions of victims of the bloody hell 1971 war, but we
also wish to speak about the need today
to fight global terrorism and cooperate with other nations to do that.
The
Victory Day is also a public holiday in Bangladesh. In a remarkable feat of
historical memory, today it is a vast torrent that fills the streets of every
Bangladesh’s city. Yet it is hard to deny the sheer weight of public enthusiasm
on display, with whole families walking together to honour their ancestors,
generating a mood that seems both somber and festive. It is something for
parents to do with their children, generation after generation. About three
million Bangladesh’s people died and much of the country was devastated,
leaving almost no family untouched. Hence, the anti-Pakistani victory is a
great source of pride for our people, and legitimacy for our state, at a time
when there is quite a lot of uncertainty. So, the idea is to take every
opportunity to celebrate it.
As
this year's Victory Day will commemorate the 47th anniversary of the
capitulation of the Pakistani regime, it is comparable like to Memorial Day in
Bangladesh, and dedicated to the commemoration of all who died during our
glorious Liberation War in 1971. Both are typically marked with parades and the
visiting of memorials and cemeteries. For us it can be canonised as the
"Great Patriotic War" in Bangladesh — can in terms of mythological
importance be compared to D-Day for Americans. Both events have left
unforgettable imprints in the psyches of the respective societies.
While
paying dues to fallen heroes is commended around the world, the Victory Day in
Bangladesh has increasingly become a manifestation of our people’s supreme
sacrifices in 1971. It marks the
decisive battle during the 1971 War of Independence in which our people
defeated Pakistani forces who sought to re-assert control over our sacred land.
Although it marks the important historical battle, the annual military parade
also commemorates and recognises the contributions of all our people in their
fight to gain and retain our independence. The Victory Day is celebrated all
over the country. We hope the people of Bangladesh celebrate the end of
Pakistani domination on us and remember those who stood by us in those times
when the Pakistan’s army and their local accomplices were knocking at our door,
bombing our places into oblivion and killing millions of our people with no
mercy in their hearts. The veterans also say that even though those horrible
days are long gone, they should never be forgotten, adding that unfortunately
our world has changed from true patriotism to mollification.
The
immortal people bring together people whose near and dear ones fought for
independence of Bangladesh on this grand occasion. Thus, we shall honour the
memory of heroes who earned this hard-won victory. Forty seven years ago, the
war, the deadliest conflict in human history, came to an end as Pakistan’s
Instrument of Surrender came into force on 16December 1971. Almost
all people of the Bangladesh’s population were caught up in this 9 months long
war. The observance of Victory Day is carried annually out to pay respects to
the victims and fallen heroes of the war and to give laurels to the surviving
veterans. Being a landmark event, people commemorate the patriots who gallantly
fought the-then fascist Pakistani troops.
It was the shared operose experience defending our beloved country that shaped andformed Bangladesh’s modern nation. The memory of the war has become sacred,and, for most people, it is as important as their own birthday. The emergenceof Bangladesh has always had a significant place in Bangladesh’s ideology andits importance to its people can be magnified. Withso many deaths in the fight against the Pakistani military junta and its localconfederates, most Bangladesh’s families experienced personal loss.
The Victory Day is the festival of hope and togetherness. May our life beilluminated with endless prosperity, sparkling happiness and glowing health andthat should be our prayers on this gracious occasion. We wish all parts oflight in our life and our dreams come true for a golden Bangladesh. It is ofrejoicing that will be when we all see the green and red flag flying atop. Wewill sing and shout the victory, because life is a highway. Righteousness wasrestored driving away wrongful-nesses; those were the days of great trials offierce battles, darkness, tanks, bombs, guns and bayonets; still we were thevoice in the desert crying to behold the victorious freedom fighters werecoming, riding on the clouds shining like the sun, at the trumpet's call. Lift our voices because it is the day ofremembrance out of the hellish state of affairs, salvation will finally come.
Bangladesh’s
beauty is a merited gift; her departure is unnecessary; and her lips without
speaking can write history. Bangabandhu’s call was the one we want to answer
for eternity; to speak until no words remain; gave until there was nothing to
defeat to his submission is life's greatest victory. The night flower of this
heart like a rainbow our presence brightened the horizons, but just like the
stars disappeared with the daylight. In the midst of the night, when silence
reigns over the noise, we see the crown of victory and breathe the air of love.
There
is no time to be alone, we are just always feel life's love on the Victory Day
and our true companion is an entire world of joy in Bangladesh. We want the
thunder, the crashing of waves, the guts and the glory of victory parades on
the Victory Day. There is no rockets flaring, there is no loud display. If we
walk together with the true spirits of our glorious Liberation War, we shall
soon get there someway which were battered by the anti-Bangladesh liberation
force and their buddies. And the women and men, they will smile, on the Victory
Day. And the children, they will laugh and they will sing and they will play.
And the forests will echo our grace, for the brand new dawn of our youths. And when we shall finally defeat our enemies,
our people will be free. And all across this great land, the bold truth we
shall see. So, as we march together, to avoid catastrophe, let's remember
always our sacred destiny is to free Bangladesh from the anti-Bangladesh
liberation force and their mango-twigs through vote out in the December 30
national polls and restitute the very foundations in full on which Bangladesh
was founded in 1971.
This
is joy with tears in our eyes on the Victory Day because the days and nights at
open-hearth furnaces, our motherland spent, sleepless. Days and nights we fought a hard battle and
we did all we could for hastening this day. Let us not minimise the deliberate
murder of three million people. Let us have a moral victory that can shine as a
light to all nations. Thus, the Victory Day is a time to remember the fallen as
well as to celebrate the triumph.
The
celebration of Victory Day continued during subsequent years. The war became a
topic of great importance in cinema, literature, history lessons at school, the
mass media, and the arts. The ritual of the celebration gradually obtained a
distinctive character with a number of similar elements: ceremonial meetings,
speeches, lectures, receptions and fireworks. But on this occasion the
government also announced that it would make the remembrance of all who lost
their lives a part of the event. The government should decide to bring the loss
of life during the war into focus on this occasion through a Day of Remembrance
is welcome.
Our
people were truly patriot; loved the country so dearly……….From our side, the
war was fought on the philosophies of establishing of Nationalism, Democracy,
Socialism, Secularism in the country. The true spirits and values of our
glorious Liberation War of 1971 can best be described by a song sings by famed
singer Rathindra Nath Roy, “For the youngsters; for the adults; for the poor;
for the riches; for all; for the have-nots; for the beggars-our country is for
all people; for all people where there is no difference between ponters and
blacksmiths; where there is no difference amongst Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists
and Christians; one mother; and one country but belong to all (Chotoder
boroder, shokoler, ……..ek mata, ek desh shokoler).”
Through
the ballot revolution on 30 December 2018 — we must re-live and sort out the
tortured history of more than two decades by two military regimes and a regime
by their mango-twigs in order to move forward in the 21st century. And the
anti-Bangladesh liberation force and their confederates must be reduced to
ashes through this national poll. So, there is no substitute for victory
because our victory lies with the truth. Long live the cause of freedom!
-The End-
The writer is a senior citizen of Bangladesh, writes on politics, political and human-centred figures, current and international affairs
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