The 50th Anniversary of Victory Day was celebrated in Canberra beside the iconic Commonwealth Bridge in the morning.
Thirty-two flag poles on both sides of the Bridge were decorated with the national flags of Bangladesh and a specially designed banner on the celebration of Golden jubilee. The flags and banners will be on display for seven days.
The morning event organised beside in an open park next to the Commonwealth Bridge and was attended by hundreds of members from the Bangladesh family. Members of Bangladesh community cultural group Dhrupod and Jalsha sang the national anthem and a few other patriotic songs to add colour to the morning segment of the celebration.
Offering tributes to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, martyrs of the liberation war and all the valiant freedom fighters and women for their highest sacrifice, High Commissioner Sufiur Rahman mentioned that the achievements of Bangladesh for last fifty years demonstrate validity of the project of independent county for the Bengali nation, as dreamt by the Bangabandhu as ‘Sonar Bangla’.
He underscored the necessity of continued community participation in country’s image building in Australia that has started to value Bangladesh as a key partner country in the region.
After that, the High Commissioner hoisted the national flag at Chancery premises. The messages of the President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and State Minister for Foreign Affairs were read out. A Special munajat was also offered for the salvation of the departed souls of the Father of the Nation and his family members, martyrs of liberation war, and for a peaceful, inclusive and prosperous Bangladesh.
A discussion session and cultural program were organized at the Chancery premise in the evening. Discussants recollected the contribution of the Father of the Nation in charting path for a proud independent nation that his daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is relentlessly pursuing.
High Commissioner Rahman referred to Bangladesh’s impressive attainments in the past decades and underscored the need for family and society level awareness and contribution to help the Government create a Bangladesh, firmly set on equity, human dignity and social justice following the spirit of liberation. Respect was shown to a few valiant freedom fighters present in Canberra.
A colourful cultural program with songs, dance and recitation of poems enthralled the audience.
