Victory Day celebration rekindles ‘Spirit of ’71’

The “spirit of ’71” was revived when the cultural programme held on the occasion of the 45th Victory Day celebration of Bangladesh was inaugurated by Syed Muazzem Ali, High Commissioner, Bangladesh. 

He recalled the pivotal role played by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in every stage of the nation’s struggle and eventual independence by freeing the country from the clutches of the Pakistani occupation forces on this day in 1971. He paid homage to Bangabandhu, and all the martyrs and freedom fighters of Bangladesh-India joint forces.

Country’s one of the leading singers Shama Rahman presented a rich array of Bengali songs which included patriotic, Nazrul, Dijendra Lal and Tagore songs. She began her presentation with famous Tagore song O Amar Desher mati and ended with Dhano, Dhanney, Puspey bhara which enthralled a capacity crowd at the Maitree Hall of Bangladesh High Commission in the national Capital. These songs which had imbibed our freedom fighters on 1971, revived the “spirit of ’71”. Thereafter, Bengali-origin leading kathak dancer Shovana Narayan and her troupe presented kathak dances also to the tune of famous patriotic songs of Tagore, which were regularly sung in 1971.  The day’s program, however, began with the ceremonial flag hoisting by High Commissioner Syed Muazzem Ali and the messages issued by the Bangladesh’s President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and State Minister for Foreign Affairs were read on the occasion. 

High officials, Ambassadors/High Commissioners, Generals and Veterans who took part in our ’71 War, educationists, journalists, professors and friends of Bangladesh, Bangladeshi expatriates and Mission officials attended the programme which was rounded off by Gurer roshgolla and other Bengali delicacies.