Shawdesh Desk:

The Armed Forces Day is being observed today with due solemnity and enthusiasm marking the founding of Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh Air Force during the country’s Liberation War.

On this day in 1971, Bangladesh Armed Forces comprising army, navy and air force came into being and launched an all-out attack on the Pakistani occupation forces.

Since the country’s independence, the day has been observed as the Armed Forces Day every year.

The day’s programmes began with offering of special prayers in mosques of all cantonments, naval and air force bases across the country after Fazr prayer, seeking divine blessings for the country’s welfare and progress and continued development and progress of the Armed Forces.

President M Abdul Hamid, also the supreme commander of the Armed Forces, and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages greeting the members of the armed forces on the occasion.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid wreaths at ‘Shikha Anirban’ (the Eternal Flame) at Dhaka Cantonment in the morning to pay homage to the members of the Armed Forces who sacrificed their lives during our Liberation War in 1971.

Later, Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Shaheen Iqbal and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Shaikh Abdul Hannan also laid wreaths at ‘Shikha Anirban’ on behalf of their respective forces.

On the occasion, chiefs of the three services will call on the President at the Bangabhaban and Prime Minster at Ganabhaban on the day.

On the occasion, the Prime Minister will be connected through VTC and give a reception to the family members of the Bir Shresthas and selected gallantry award-winning freedom fighters at the Army Multipurpose Complex in Dhaka Cantonment.

On behalf of the Prime Minister, the Liberation War Affairs Minister will present personally and hand over the Peacetime Medal of 2020-2021 to five-member of Army, two-member of Navy and one-member of Air Force.

Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Air Staff, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Principal Staff Officer (PSO) of Armed Forces Division, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Defense, Secretary of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs and Civil and military officials will be present at the programme.

On the occasion of the celebration of the day, a reception will be organized on behalf of the Prime Minister at 4:00pm at Sena Kunja in Dhaka Cantonment. The Prime Minister will attend the event through Video Teleconference (VTC).

The chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force will also accord receptions to the award-winning freedom fighters of their respective forces and their inheritors.

Among others, the Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad, the Chief Justice, former Presidents, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, former chief advisers, ministers and dignitaries of the equivalent status, state ministers and dignitaries of the equivalent status, Deputy Speaker, foreign envoys, heads of international organizations, Chief Election Commissioner, Election Commissioners, judges of the Supreme Court, Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary, MPs of Dhaka, Former military officers, high civil and military officials, leading intelligentsia, senior journalists and other distinguished personalities are expected to attend the reception.

The program will be broadcast live on Bangladesh Television.

The chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force will also accord receptions to the award-winning freedom fighters of their respective forces and their inheritors.

Besides, the Chief of Army Staff will give a similar reception to the freedom fighters or their heirs on November 23.

Apart from Dhaka, receptions will be organised in Barishal, Cox’s Bazar, Bogura, Sylhet, Ghatail, Chittagong, Jashore, Rangpur and Khulna cantonments and bases under the management of the respective area headquarters.

Bangladesh Navy Ships will remain open for visitors at Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna, Barisal and Chandpur from 2:00pm to till dusk on the occasion of Armed Forces Day-2021.

The ships will be opened for visitors at Dhaka Sadarghat, Naval berth in Chattogram, Khulna Naval berth/Rocket Ghat, Digraj Naval jetty/ Mongla port, BIWTA Ghat in Barishal and BIWTA Ghat in Chandpur.

Yesterday, November 20 (Saturday), highlighting the significance of the Armed Forces Day, Bangladesh Television broadcast the program “Special Anirban” after the Bangla news at 8:00pm.

Bangladesh Betar will broadcast “Special Durbar” Today, November 21 (Sunday) at 7:30pm.

The program “Special Anirban” will be aired on private TV channels in phases. Special supplements will be published in various Bengali and English national dailies on the occasion of the day.

On this occasion, essay and drawing competitions (online based) have been organized in the educational institutions run by the Armed Forces.