Staff Reporter:
The Armed Forces Day is today. The Day will be celebrated through various programs amid festivi-ty and enthusiasm, marking the establishment of army, navy and air force during the 1971 Libera-tion War.
The day’s program will begin with offering of special prayers after Fajr at all mosques in all the cantonments and naval and air force bases throughout the country on the day, seeking divine blessings for the well-being and prosperity of the nation and progress of the armed forces, said an ISPR press release here yesterday.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday greeted members of the armed forces on the occasion of the Armed Forces Day today.
In a message, the President recalled the memories of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman under whose leadership Bangladesh achieved the country’s final victory on De-cember 16, 1971 following a nine-month armed Liberation War.
He also recalled the memories of the 1971 martyrs, particularly the seven recipients of the highest gallantry awards “Bir Shreshtha”, and prayed for the eternal peace of the departed souls and con-veyed deep sympathy to the injured freedom fighter military officials and the family members of the martyrs of the armed forces.
Shahabuddin, also the supreme commander of the armed forces, said: “The armed forces, born through the Great War of Liberation, are the symbol of confidence and pride of the nation”.
To mark the day, the President and Prime Minister will place wreaths at the Shikha Anirban (the Eternal Flame) at Dhaka Cantonment this morning, paying homage to the martyred armed forces’ members who laid down their lives in the Liberation War in 1971.
Later, Army Chief General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed, Navy Chief Admiral Mohammad Nazmul Ha-san and Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Shaikh Abdul Hannan will place wreaths at the Shikha Anirban on behalf of their respective forces.
On the occasion, chiefs of the three services will pay courtesy call on the President at the Banga-bhaban and Prime Minster at Armed Forces Division on the day.
The Prime Minister will accord a reception to family members of the Bir Shreshthas and selected gallantry award winning 1971 veterans and their family members at Army Multipurpose Complex in Dhaka Cantonment.
The premier will distribute peace award for 2022-23 among five army, three navy and three air force personnel.
Liberation War Affairs Minister, PM’s Security Affairs Adviser, chiefs of the three services, PM’s Principal Secretary, Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division, Senior Secretary of the Defence Ministry, Secretary of Liberation War Affairs Ministry and other military and civil offi-cials will be present at the function.
Besides, a reception program will be arranged on behalf of the premier at Senakunja in the can-tonment at 4pm on the same day.
