DHAKA: The 43rd anniversary of victory will be celebrated on Wednesday in a befitting manner with the promise of regular presentation of national anthem at city’s historical Suhrawardy Udyan at 4:31pm of December 16 every year.

A National Committee for Victory Day Celebration on Saturday declared the day’s program at noon through a press conference at city’s Shahbagh intersection.

The committee convener Professor Dr Abul Barakat of Dhaka University said that Professor Emeritus Dr Anisuzzaman will inaugurate the day’s program at 12:00pm at Suhrawardy Udyan in city. From then on, events, exposing Bangladeshi cultures, will be held there till evening.

A chorus of national anthem will be organized at 4:31pm, he added. “After the presentation of the anthem, people will take oath, to be conducted by Abdul Gaffar Choudhury.”

Victory Day celebration will end with the event of ‘Concert for Freedom’ being followed by the presentations of the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra artistes and fireworks, said the committee convener.

Forty three years back on this day, Bangladesh achieved independence from Pakistan occupation winning a bloody battle of nine months.

Three million people sacrificed their lives for the independence while a total of two lakh women irrespective of their age and religious identities also became victims of physical torture including rape by the Pakistani occupation forces and their local collaborating fronts like Razakars, Al-Badar, and Al-Shams during the war.

However, eminent female rights activist Khushi Kabir, Ganajagaran Mancha spokesperson Imran H Sarkar and eminent sculptor Ferdousi Priyovashini were also present at the conference.

BDST: 1920 HRS, DEC 13, 2014