National
Nation Observes Victory Day Today
The nation is observing Victory Day, a momentous occasion for the Bangalees, commemorating the liberation of Bangladesh from Pakistani occupation forces 52 years ago after a nine-month-long War of Liberation, marked by immense sacrifice. On December 16, 1971, Bangladesh emerged as an independent nation under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, at the cost of three million lives and the honor of nearly half a million women.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have issued separate messages, offering heartfelt tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War. The Victory Day programs include a 31-gun salute, wreath-laying at monuments to honor martyrs, and the hoisting of national flags across government, semi-government, and private offices nationwide.
Decorations of city streets, illumination of key buildings, and a night-time transformation of roads and street islands are part of the celebratory activities. President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will lead the homage-paying ceremony at the National Memorial in Savar, followed by family members of Bir Sreshthos, wounded freedom fighters, and other valiant individuals.
A reception at Bangabhaban hosted by President Mohammed Shahabuddin and his wife, Dr. Rebecca Sultana, will mark the 53rd Victory Day, with prominent dignitaries expected to attend. The day is a public holiday, and various events, including discussions, cultural programs, and competitions for children, will take place nationwide. National media will feature special supplements and month-long programs in remembrance of the Liberation War.
The occasion will witness illuminated buildings, special prayers for martyrs, improved diets in institutions, free access to children’s parks and museums, and the screening of Liberation War-based films across the country. Additionally, a documentary and poster exhibition on the history and heritage of the Liberation War will be organized in the city, with similar programs at district, upazila levels, and Bangladesh missions abroad to emphasize the significance of the day.
Leaders of the quota reform movement have resolutely refused to negotiate with the government, insisting that their movement will persist until their demands are met.
In a Facebook post, Hasnat Abdullah, a coordinator of the movement, declared, “No discussion through stepping onto blood.”
Asif Mahmud, another prominent leader, echoed this sentiment, stating, “There can be no dialogue with bullets. I would prefer death over this betrayal.”
He further elaborated, “On one side, there are bullets. On the other, there is a call for dialogue. We can’t sit for dialogue while stepping onto the blood of our brothers.”
Earlier, leaders of the quota reform movement accused the government of escalating the law and order situation towards violence, asserting that their movement was peaceful until the government’s intervention.
Vowing to continue their struggle, Asif Mahmud stated, “We will continue our protests till we achieve our demands for reformation of the quota system, reopening of the halls and campuses, making university campuses terror-free, withdrawing political forces from the campuses, and punishing the killers and attackers.”
He added, “The people of the country have encircled those who tried to corner us. No conspiracy will be able to derail our movement.”
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today urged both local and international investors to invest in the extraction of marine resources from Bangladesh’s extensive sea areas.
“In order to fortify the blue economy through the diverse utilization of our marine resources, I call upon local and foreign investors to seize the opportunity to invest in Bangladesh. This will enable us to harness more of our marine resources,” she announced.
The Prime Minister made these remarks during the inauguration of the Bangladesh International Aquaculture and Seafood Show-2024 at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in Dhaka.
She emphasized the importance of adhering to proper standards in the collection, distribution, and processing of fish to boost exports, aiming to make fish the country’s second-largest source of foreign currency.
Sheikh Hasina pointed out that her government has made limited progress in harvesting fish and other sea resources from the deep sea due to a lack of interest from local investors.
“Therefore, we need foreign investment to advance in this area. This is the reality we must face,” she noted.
She also suggested that both local and foreign investors can collaborate in joint ventures or invest separately in this sector to achieve better results.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecasted light to moderate and moderately heavy rainfall or thundershowers, accompanied by temporary gusty winds, across all eight divisions of the country over the next 24 hours, starting from 9 am today.
In its weather bulletin issued this morning, the BMD stated, “Light to moderate rain or thundershowers with temporary gusty wind is expected in a few places over Rangpur, Mymensingh, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions. Additionally, one or two places in Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna, and Barisal divisions may experience similar conditions, with moderately heavy falls anticipated at several locations in Rangpur, Mymensingh, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions.”
The bulletin also highlighted that the current mild heat wave sweeping across the Rangpur division and the districts of Tangail, Chuadanga, Rajshahi, Pabna, Bogra, and Netrokona may persist.
Daytime temperatures are expected to rise slightly, while nighttime temperatures are likely to remain nearly unchanged throughout the country.
On Wednesday, the highest recorded temperature was 36.7 degrees Celsius, observed in Rajshahi, Rangpur, and Rajarhat. The lowest temperature recorded today was 26.0 degrees Celsius, noted in Bandarban and Teknaf.
Over the last 24 hours, rainfall amounted to 16 mm in Bandarban.
For the capital, the sun will set at 6:48 pm today and rise at 5:21 am tomorrow.
