Bangladesh Celebrates Victory Day Amid Virus Curbs

For the first time ever, Bangladesh is celebrating the anniversary of its independence victory without outdoor festivities or public gatherings due to pandemic restrictions.

The South Asian nation gained its long-cherished independence on Dec. 16, 1971 following a nine-month bloody war, popularly known as the Liberation War of 1971, against then-West Pakistan, currently Pakistan. At that time, Bangladesh was known as East Pakistan.

Since then, every Dec. 16 Bangladesh has been observing Victory Day with great enthusiasm.

A joint military parade is held at the National Parade Square in the capital Dhaka with the country's prime minister or head of state as guest of honor.

Moreover, millions of people across the country, including foreign diplomats, come out on the streets to celebrate the national day of Bangladesh, a delta state of above 165 million people. Dozens of socio-cultural groups hold colorful rallies all over the country especially in Dhaka to share the joy of victory.

People from all walks of life and all ages adorned with traditional green and red dresses hold rallies, reminding people of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the independence of this green country.

Due to the spread of the novel coronavirus in Bangladesh, like most other parts of the world, this year the public has been deprived of festivities, as authorities have banned all open Victory Day functions.

More than 7,000 people have died while nearly a half million have contracted the virus in Bangladesh. Over 400,000 patients have recovered from the disease.

Great source of inspiration

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, AK Abdul Momen, the country's foreign minister, said restrictions on open festivities do not mean that the spirit of Victory Day has in any way been diminished.

"This is a very big victory for us. Bengalis had a long-cherished dream of achieving independence and a sovereign state, and that dream came true on Dec. 16, 1971," Momen said.

"We have established one thing very clearly that if you have strong determination and unity, you do not need extensive training or weapons of mass destruction to achieve something great."

On the background of the Liberation War, he added: "We were together with the Pakistani government for 24 years, and before that we were under British rule for around 200 years. During those long years, we were oppressed.

"Our legal rights, including the right to vote, right to food, and right to healthcare, were trampled frequently. We raised our concerns again and again and we did that legally and decently. But our demands were ignored first by the British government and then by the Pakistani government."

Decrying the discriminatory treatment they faced, he added that not only were the legitimate demands of the Bangladeshi people ignored, but in many cases the then-rulers acted totally against the interests of the people.

Struggle of country's founding leader

On the eve of Victory Day, Momen also praised the unparalleled struggle of the country's founding leader, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

"Due to this long deprivation, our founding leader and father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had to take the path of a movement."

Momen added that Rahman "was in jail for nearly 14 years out of the 24 years under the Pakistani regime. He fought to establish people's rights and democracy.

"We salute and congratulate the father of the nation as well as all the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the country's independence."

He also hailed the unity among his countrymen during the war, saying: "God helps those who help themselves. We helped ourselves in 1971 and gained victory. We had no arms to speak of, but we had plenty of courage."

Indian support

Analyzing the 1971 war, Momen also thanked India for its wholehearted support for Bangladesh's liberation.

More than 10 million Bangladeshi refugees took shelter in India during the war, and at one stage India directly took part in the war against Pakistan. On Dec. 16, 1971, Pakistani soldiers surrendered in the capital Dhaka's historic Suhrawardy Uddyan.

"I still remember the scenario that 93,000 well-trained Pakistani soldiers surrendered before the joint forces of Bangladesh and India. So it is our combined victory," Momen said.

Addressing the country's young people, he added the 1971 victory "carries a message for the young generation of Bangladesh that we are a victorious nation. We dream of a Sonar Bangla [golden Bangla], and we must achieve this goal and no one can stop us." -