Bangladesh High Commission in Colombo celebrates 44th Anniversary of Victory Day

The Bangladesh High Commission in Colombo celebrated the 44th Anniversary of Victory Day of Bangladesh on 16 December with great enthusiasm and festivity. A day-long program was organised at the Chancery premises with the participation of the expatriate Bangladesh community in Sri Lanka and the officers and staff members of the High Commission. 

The morning session of the program began with the ceremonial hoisting of the National Flag of Bangladesh by High Commissioner Tarik Ahsan at the Chancery premises in presence of all the officers/staff members of the High Commission and the members of the Bangladesh community. Then, verses from Holy Scriptures were recited and messages from the President, the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister and the State Minister for Foreign Affairs released on the occasion of the Victory Day were read out.

This was followed by an open discussion on the significance of the Victory Day, on which the country was liberated from the clutches of the occupation forces after a nine-month long war of liberation. In the discussion, members of the Bangladesh community as well as officers/staff members of the High Commission took part. 

In his remarks, the High Commissioner described the great Victory Day as one of the most glorious days in the history of Bangali people. He paid rich tributes to the memories of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, all freedom fighters and martyrs of the liberation war. He emphasised the need of drawing inspiration and ideals of the Victory Day in realising the dream of the nation to become a developed country by 2041by pursuing continuous development in all spheres of national life. The morning session concluded with screening of a documentary on liberation war, prayers for the martyrs and light refreshment.

Later in the evening the Mission, beautifully decorated with banners and festoons on the occasion, organised an art competition for the children on the theme of ‘victory’. Children of officers/staff members of the High Commission and the local Bangladesh community participated in the competition with great enthusiasm. The winners of the art competition were later rewarded with prizes, while all the children present were given gifts. Besides, a cake was formally cut on the occasion of Victory Day.

Another documentary was screened in the concluding session of the program. The day-long program was rounded off with a buffet dinner where various Bangladeshi delicacies were served.