Thousands of people from all walks of life came out on the streets across the country yesterday, refusing to be cowed by the threats of bomb attacks. Under the banners of different political, social, cultural and professional bodies, people invaded the city streets in colourful processions throughout the day.

They carried banners and festoons and staged mock shows on bullock carts and trucks depicting different aspects of the war against the Pakistan Army. The drums beat out jovial tunes as the marchers chanted slogans reminiscent of the Liberation War.

Hundreds gathered at the National Mausoleum at Savar, queuing since early morning amid tight security to pay homage to the freedom fighters. By noon the ground in front of the mausoleum became all covered with flowers.

President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed and Prime Minister Khaleda Zia laid floral wreaths at the altar of the memorial at 6:34am and 6:40am. They stood in solemn silence in respect for the martyrs as the bugle played the last post. A smartly turned out contingent of the army, the navy and the air force presented state salute on the occasion.

Speaker Jamiruddin Sircar, Chief Justice Syed JR Muddassir Husain, cabinet members, diplomats, chiefs of the three armed services, freedom fighters, and high civil and military officials were present.

Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina laid wreaths at 7:40am.

On December 16, 1971, the Pakistani occupation forces surrendered to the joint command of Indian Army and Bangladeshi freedom fighters at the then Race Course (now Suhrawardi Udyan) Maidan in Dhaka after a nine-month bloody war for independence of the country.

The Victory Day this year is being celebrated in the context of rising militancy across the country. The day's programmes have been curtailed due to security concerns over the recent spate of suicide blasts.

The day began with a 31-gun salute to the war heroes on the old airport. National flags were hoisted at all government, semi-government and other important establishments.

Prime Minister Khaleda Zia placed wreaths at the graveyard of late president Ziaur Rahman at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the morning. Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina along with her party leaders and workers placed wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at 6:30am.

President Iajuddin Ahmed and his wife hosted a reception at the Bangabhavan in the afternoon. Cabinet ministers, diplomats, judges, chiefs of army, navy and the air force, leaders of various political parties and members of parliament attended the ceremony.

Special prayers were offered at mosques, temples, churches and other places of worship seeking divine blessings for peace and progress of the country on the occasion. Improved diets were served at hospitals, jails, orphanages, children's homes and vagrant centres.

The state-run Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar and private TV channels broadcast special programmes while national dailies brought out special supplements highlighting the significance of the day.

District administration, political parties and their front organisations, educational institutions, trade unions, professional bodies, and scores of socio-cultural forums across the country organised attractive functions to celebrate the day.

Discussions, exhibitions of documents on the Liberation War, essay and drawing competitions for children, reunion of freedom fighters and cultural functions were some of the highlights of the day.

Thousands of spectators thronged Bangabandhu National Stadium to see the girls and boys on parade and cultural functions. A total of 84 educational and cultural institutions took part in the programmes.

The ruling BNP has taken elaborate programmes to celebrate the Victory Day. National and party flags were hoisted on its offices across the country.

In observance of the day, the main opposition AL has arranged a two-day programme. They placed wreaths at the National Mausoleum, 'Shikha Chirantan' (Eternal Flames) in Suhrawardy Udyan and garlanded the portrait of Bangabandhu.

Besides, the party brought out a colourful procession in the city from Engineers' Institute at 3:00pm. It paraded different streets before ending at Bangabandhu Museum in Dhanmondi.

Sammilita Sangskritik Jote, a leading cultural organisation, also took out a vibrantly coloured procession from the Central Shaheed Minar at 10:30am as part of its three-day Bijoy Utsab.

Dressed in different traditional Bengali clothes, youths and juveniles sporting different giant masks danced to the rhythm of drums. Parading through different streets, the procession ended at the TSC on Dhaka University campus.

SAVAR NATIONAL MAUSOLEUM
People from across the social spectrum began to mass at Savar National Mausoleum after the placing of wreaths by the president and the prime minister.

Communist Party of Bangladesh, Jatiya Party (Ershad), Workers Party of Bangladesh, left-leaning 11-party, factions of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal and Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal, Jaker Party, Bangladesh Tariqat Federation, Sramik League, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, Bangladesh Chhatra League were among the political parties and the front organisations placing wreaths at the memorial.

Bangladesh Supreme Court Bar Association, Muktijoddha Sangsad, Muktijoddha Kalyan Trust, individual freedom fighters, educational institutions, various socio-cultural and non-governmental organisations, and associations of teachers, officers and employees of different universities also laid wreaths.

Among others, vice chancellors of different universities, Bangladesh Bar Council, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, Dhaka Reporters Unity, Crimes Reporters Association, Press Institute of Bangladesh, Dhaka Palli Bhidyut Samity, Bigyan Shilpa Gabeshona Parishad, Shilpakala Academy, National Museum, Centre for Rehabilitation of the Paralysed, Jatiyatabadi Muktijuddher Prajanma, Bangladesh Hindu Parisad, Bangla Academy, Mohila Parisad, Nazrul Institute and Dhaka Officers Club placed wreaths at the memorial.