Ministry announces comprehensive programmes for Martyred Intellectuals Day and Victory Day
Special prayers will be held in mosques, temples, churches, pagodas, and other places of worship nationwide
The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs has unveiled an extensive schedule of programmes to observe Martyred Intellectuals Day on 14 December and Victory Day on 16 December.
At a press conference held today (11 December), Adviser Farooq-e-Azam detailed the events, emphasising the significance of the commemorations.
On 14 December, President Md Shahabuddin and Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus will lay wreaths at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial in Dhaka. The ceremony will be broadcast live on Bangladesh Television and private TV channels. Family members of the martyrs and freedom fighters will also pay tribute, followed by political, social organisations, and the general public.
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Special prayers will be held in mosques, temples, churches, pagodas, and other places of worship nationwide. District and upazila-level discussions will highlight the sacrifices of martyred intellectuals, with programs aired on Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television, and private channels.
The ministry has urged the public to preserve the solemnity of the occasion by refraining from using loudspeakers near the memorial.
Victory Day on 16 December will begin with a 31-gun salute at dawn in Dhaka. President Shahabuddin and Chief Adviser Yunus will lead the wreath-laying at the National Memorial in Savar, followed by tributes from freedom fighters, martyrs' families, diplomats, political leaders, and the general public.
The national flag will be hoisted at all government, semi-government, and private buildings, while prominent landmarks will be illuminated. Streets in Dhaka and other cities will be adorned with the national flag.
Newspapers will publish special supplements, and electronic media will air programs dedicated to the Liberation War. Cultural institutions like Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Bangla Academy, and the Liberation War Museum will host discussions, cultural events, and competitions for children, alongside screenings of Liberation War-themed documentaries.
Victory Fairs showcasing local art and crafts will take place at the district and upazila levels, complemented by children's painting contests and cultural events. Bangladeshi embassies worldwide will also host commemorative events.
In the evening, the families of the Bir Sreshtha—the nation's highest gallantry award recipients—will be honoured at Bangabhaban. Tributes will also be extended to freedom fighters and martyrs' families at city, district, and upazila levels. The Bangladesh Postal Service will issue commemorative postage stamps to mark the day.
Special meals will be served at orphanages, old age homes, hospitals, jails, and government-run children's homes. Public access to children's parks and museums will be free, and cinemas will screen Liberation War-themed films at no cost.
