Report by Humayun Kabir from Portugal, On the 16th of December 2021, the Golden Jubilee of Liberation of Bangladesh has been celebrated on the glorious Victory Day in Lisbon with due solemnity and festivity. Bangladesh Embassy in Lisbon organized a daylong celebratory event to commemorate the day. The Chancery premises were decorated with banners, posters, festoons and colourful lights. In the evening, the façade of the Chancery building was illuminated with red and green lights.
The morning session of the programme started with ceremonial hoisting of the National Flag at the Chancery by Ambassador Tarik Ahsan in presence of all officials of the Embassy.
Thereafter, the Embassy officials virtually participated in an oath-taking ceremony conducted by Hon‘ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and pledged to build a developed, wealthy and non–communal “Sonar Bangla” by pursuing the ideals of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The second session of the programme began with the placing of floral wreaths at the newly installed mural portrait of the Father of the Nation near the main entrance of the Chancery by the officials of the Embassy and leaders of the expatriate Bangladesh community. It was followed by the observance of one-minute silence to pay tribute to the Father of the Nation and martyred members of his family and the martyrs of the Liberation War. Messages from the Hon‘ble President, the Hon‘ble Prime Minister, the Hon‘ble Foreign Minister and Hon‘ble State Minister for Foreign Affairs, released on the occasion, were then read out by the officials.
At the discussion segment on ’50 Years of Victory‘, the speakers highlighted the significance of the day in the history of Bangladesh and the accomplishments of Bangladesh since its liberation. In the concluding remarks, Ambassador Tarik Ahsan paid homage to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the martyrs of the Liberation War, Biranganas and the valiant freedom fighters. He viewed that the greatest achievement of victory of Bangladesh was the establishment of a country based on modern, people–oriented ideology, forsaking the regressive ideals of feudalism and communalism. He added that remarkable progress in socio–economic development made by Bangladesh, under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has been the result of the pursuit of the progressive values of liberation struggle propounded by the Father of the Nation. In order to further enhance the development of Bangladesh in the next 50 years, he exhorted all to work toward progress and good name of the country and to spread the spirit of the War of Liberation among new generations.
During a brief cultural segment, a poem on the victory day theme was recited. Video documentaries on the liberation struggle and 50 years‘ development saga of Bangladesh were also screened thereafter.
A special prayer was offered for the salvation of the departed souls of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the martyred members of his family, martyrs and valiant freedom fighters of the War of Liberation, and for the peace, progress and prosperity of Bangladesh. The event was rounded off with a serving of traditional Bangladeshi food items for all the guests.