Armed Forces Day Saturday

Armed Forces Day will be observed across the country on Saturday with due solemnity and fervour, marking the establishment of the Bangladesh Military during the Liberation War, says an ISPR release.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will address the nation on Saturday evening.

According to the release, state-owned Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television will simultaneously broadcast the Prime Minister's address at 7pm. Private television channels and radio stations will also air her address, added the release.

Bangladesh Armed Forces, comprising the army, navy, and air force, came into being on this day in 1971and launched an all-out attack on the Pakistani occupation forces.

The day has been observed as the Armed Forces Day every year since the country's independence.

The day's programs will start with the offering of special prayers (after Fajr prayers) in mosques of all cantonments, naval and air force outposts, and establishments, seeking divine blessings for the country's welfare and progress and continued development of the Armed Forces.

On behalf of President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, their military secretaries will place wreaths at 'Shikha Anirban' at Dhaka Cantonment in the morning, to pay homage to members of the Armed Forces who had embraced martyrdom in the War of Liberation.

They will be followed by the chiefs of the three services.
Chief of Army Staff, General Aziz Ahmed, Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Mohammad Shaheen Iqbal and Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Masihuzzaman Serniabat will lay wreaths on behalf of their respective forces. 

Later in the day, the chiefs of the three services will pay courtesy calls on the President at Bangabhaban and the Prime Minister at the Armed Forces Division at Dhaka Cantonment.

The President, who is also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and the Prime Minister will issue separate messages to mark the occasion, said another ISPR press release.

However, due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, all events will be held on a limited scale and the Navy ships in Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna, Chandpur, and Barisal will remain closed for visitors this year in a bid to prevent the deadly virus from spreading further.

Bangladesh Television (BTV) is scheduled to broadcast a special programme titled 'Anirban' after its 8pm bulletin on Friday, highlighting the significance of the day.

Bangladesh Betar will also broadcast a special programme, 'Durbar', at 7:30pm on Saturday.

National dailies will publish special supplements to mark the occasion.