Victory Day celebrated in Bangladesh with ‘renewed joy’

The execution of four war criminals, including three this year, has brought a different note to the Victory Day celebrations.

People, dressed in green and red from the national flag, flooded the National Memorial in Savar on Wednesday with flowers to mark the 44th anniversary of the victory snatched from Pakistan.

The demand to sever ties with Pakistan has been renewed, Dhaka University having already cut the ties two days ago.

There were oaths in millions of voices to build a prosperous Bangladesh.

Liberation War Sector Commander Abu Osman Chowdhury said the trial of the war criminals brought a pleasure of ‘double victory’ this year.

He called for severing ties with Pakistan.

Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique said Pakistan denying the genocide of Bengalis during the War was a ‘barbaric lie’.

“On this day, we want to say that we cannot have any relation, including in the education sector, with those who conduct terrorism and lie,” he said.

Jahangirnagar University Vice-Chancellor Farzana Islam said, “We have liberated the country and tried the war criminals. The trial is going on. Now it’s time to build the nation.”

Groups of foreigners also joined the celebrations.

A cultural programme was held at the memorial throughout the day.