The nation celebrates the 46th Victory Day today, paying homage to the martyrs for their supreme sacrifice for freeing the country from the misrule and occupation of Pakistani ruler, BSS reports. Forty-five years back, the country was liberated on the 16th of December, 1971 after around nine months of war of independence and the supreme sacrifice of three million people and the honour of nearly half a million women.
On this day in 1971, the commander of Pakistan occupation army, General AAK 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 following a miserable defeat in the war of independence that broke out in March 25. President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave separate messages on the eve of the Day.
“The importance and significance of great Victory Day is of boundless in our national history. The victory has given us our own identity and on the other hand, it has elevated us to world arena as an independent nation,” the president said in his message. He said the country is now marching towards development and progress and has achieved manifold successes both at home and abroad, with formulating appropriate planning and ensuring its best implementation.