Live Correspondent: President M Abdul Hamid along with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today attended the Victory Day Parade, marking the 49th Victory Day. Different contingents of Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force as well as Freedom Fighters, Para-military forces, law enforcement agencies and ministers participated in the attractive parade.

To celebrate the 48th anniversary of the country’s victory that had been achieved through the nine-month War of Liberation against Pakistani occupation forces on this day in 1971, the parade was held at the National Parade Square in the capital.

President M Abdul Hamid took salute of the parade as the chief guest held under the auspices of the 9th Infantry Division of Bangladesh Army at the directives of Ministry of Liberation War Affairs and supervision of the armed forces.

The President accompanied by parade Commander and also General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 9th Infantry Division Major General Mohammad Akbar Hossain, riding on an open jeep reviewed the Victory Day Parade and took salute.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also enjoyed the attractive march past, spectacular fly-past, aerobatic display, armoury acquisitions of different regiments and contingents of the armed forces on the parade ground. On this day in 1971, Pakistani military conceded defeat to the allied forces and commanding officer of Pakistani forces general A A K Niazi surrendered arms with all members of his forces ending nine month-long bloody war.

Minister for Liberation War Affairs AKM Mozammel Haque, Chief of Army Staff General Aziz Ahmed, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Aurangzeb Chowdhury and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Masihuzzaman Serniabat, Principal Staff Officer (PSO) of the Armed Forces Division Lieutenant General Md Mahfuzur Rahman and Secretary-in-Charge of the Liberation War Affairs Ministry M. Arifur Rahama were present on the occasion.

Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, cabinet members, PM’s advisors, parliament members, senior civil and military officials and their family members were present. Thousands of people from all walks of life witnessed over two and half an hour spectacular parade.

The parade displayed the continuous development of the different civil and military organisations as well as socio-economic progress of the country and spectacular fly past and aerobatic display of the MIG 29 and other aircraft of army aviation, navy aviation and RAB helicopter and parachute landing by army paratroopers.

Aircraft of Army aviation, Navy aviation and RAB helicopters enthralled the spectators with fly-past while the Air Force presented aerobatic show and the Army paratroopers displayed parachute landing.

Earlier, on her arrival at the national parade ground around 10:25am, the Prime Minister was received by the Liberation War Affair Minister, the Chiefs of the three services, the PSO of the Armed Forces Division and the Secretary of the Liberation War Affairs Ministry.

Dhaka 16 December (campuslive24.com)//az