File photo.

DHAKA, Dec 16, 2025 (BSS) - The nation is celebrating Victory Day today as the country was liberated from the Pakistani occupation forces on this day 54 years back through a nine-month-long blood-stained War of Liberation.

On December 16, 1971, Bangladesh was born as an independent country at the cost of supreme sacrifice of three million martyrs and two lakh women. 

The celebration of the Victory Day programmes began with a 31-gun salute in the city this morning. 

President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus paid rich tributes to the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War by placing wreaths at the National Memorial here, on the outskirts of the capital with the rise of the sun. 

Then, the Bir Shrestha families, war-wounded freedom fighters and brave Freedom Fighters, under the leadership of the Liberation War Affairs Adviser, laid wreaths there.

Besides, foreign diplomats in Bangladesh and various political and social organizations, including people from all walks of life, paid tributes to the martyrs who made supreme sacrifice during the great Liberation War. 

The national flag has been hoisted at all government, semi-government, autonomous and private buildings, as well as at Bangladesh embassies and missions abroad, while lighting arrangements will be made at important buildings and establishments this evening. 

The main roads and road islands of Dhaka and various cities of the country have already been decorated with banners, festoons and colorful flags, including the national flag.

On the occasion, the government has taken extensive programmes including a three-day victory fair, parachuting with the highest number of national flags, band show, cultural events, arrangement of recitation, essay writing and painting competitions on the Liberation War for children and acrobatic shows. 

Marking the day, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus released a commemorative postage stamp yesterday. He also released an opening day cover and a canceller at a ceremony at the State Guest House Jamuna. 

President Mohammed Shahabuddin is expected to felicitate the members of the Bir Shrestha families at Bangabhaban this afternoon. In addition, receptions will be held for the family members of freedom fighters and martyrs in the metropolis, districts and upazilas

Marking the day, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting published special supplements. State-owned Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar and other TV channels and radios are broadcasting programmes highlighting the glorious history of the Liberation War.

Cinema halls across the country are screening Liberation War films free of charge for students while documentaries based on the Liberation War will be screened at auditoriums and open places across the country. 

Today, the government and autonomous museums are open to the public without entry fees, while all entertainment venues across the country are offering free entry for children.

As part of the nationwide grand celebrations of the Victory Day, Bangladesh is set to make a world record by parachuting with the highest number of national flags.

On the occasion, the Bangladesh Army, Navy, and Air Force will conduct separate fly-past demonstrations at the Tejgaon old airport in the city from 11:00 am. A special Victory Day band show will also take place there.

Besides, 54 paratroopers of "Team Bangladesh" are going to perform a flag-bearing skydive at 11:40am to mark 54 years of the country's independence, which would be the largest-ever flag-parachuting display in the world, setting a new Guinness World Record.

Similar fly-past demonstrations will also be conducted by the armed forces in other cities across the country. Alongside them, the police, BGB, and Ansar will organize band shows nationwide. All the events are open to the public.

Victory Day songs will be performed at Suhrawardy Udyan in the city from 3 pm today while new-generation artists will perform songs of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra simultaneously in 64 districts across the country.

On the occasion, various social and cultural organizations including Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Bangla Academy, National Museum, Liberation War Museum and Bangladesh Shishu Academy have organized Liberation War-based discussions, cultural programmes, children's painting, writing and sports competitions, and screenings of Liberation War-based documentaries.

Bangladesh embassies abroad have also taken up similar programmes highlighting the significance of the day.

On the occasion of the day, sports events, football matches, T20 cricket tournaments, Kabaddi and Hadudu games will be organized at convenient times at the district and upazila levels with the participation of students from schools, colleges, madrasas and other educational institutions.

Besides, Bangladesh Navy and Coast Guard vessels will remain open to the public from 9am until sunset at BIWTC jetties, including at the ports of Chattogram, Khulna, Mongla, and Payra, as well as Dhaka Sadarghat, Pagla, and Barishal.

Special prayers will be offered today at mosques, temples, churches, pagodas, and other places of worship seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of martyred freedom fighters and the well-being of wounded veterans and peace and progress of the country.

Improved diets will be served in all hospitals, prisons, old-age homes, orphanages, street-children rehabilitation centres, disability welfare centres, daycare centres, child development centres and Shishu Paribar and under-privileged children across the country.