The golden jubilee of glorious Victory Day was observed in Tokyo with much enthusiasm and fervor. This morning (16-12-2021, Thursday) the program started with hoisting of the National Flag with rendition of the National Anthem at the Embassy premises by the Ambassador of Bangladesh to Japan, Shahabuddin Ahmed. Later one-minute silence of respect was observed in the memory of the martyrs of the war of independence of Bangladesh in 1971.
The event gets new vibe when the sculpture of the half-bust of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was unveiled by the Ambassador along with the guest and officials of the mission at the Bangabandhu Corner set up earlier on the third floor. Later, at the Bangabandhu auditorium special prayer (Munajat) was offered for the peace and salvation of the souls of valiant freedom fighters who made the supreme sacrifices during the liberation war. Besides, messages given on the Victory Day by the Honorable President, Honorable Prime-Minister, Foreign Minister and State-Minister for Foreign Affairs were read out to the audiences.
In the discussion session, in his speech, Ambassador solemnly recalled and paid tribute to the greatest Bengali of all time, the architect of Bangladesh, Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family members who died on 15 August 1975. He also paid homage to the martyrs of our liberation war, national four leaders, organizers and supporters of liberation war and sacrifices made by the two lacs women who lost their dignity and honor for the country. Due to Prime Minister’s hard work and prudent leadership the Bangladesh’s development and progress are now recognized worldwide, he added. Even mitigating the adverse effect of COVID-19, growth rate of Bangladesh’s economy is remarkable. Ambassador urged all concerned to contribute more from their respective positions for the well-being of the nation and to uphold the image of our country.
Besides, Minoru KIUCHI, Member of House of Representative also the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of Japan in his remarks told that he had visited Bangladesh and was amazed with the progress Bangladesh has made. Sculptor of the half-bust of Bangabandhu Dr. Otsubo Osamu, Ambassador Matsushiro HORIGUCHI, president of Japan Bangladesh Society Ambassador Masato WATANABE, Masaaki Ohasi, Professor at the Tokyo Sacred Heart University, and Professor Kyoko NIWA of Bangla Department of Tokyo University also took part in the discussion. Speakers lauded fifty years of strong relations between the two countries and development of Bangladesh. They hoped that future Bangladesh would be more developed and prosperous. Friend of Bangladesh and Bangabandhu late Takashi HAYAKAWA’s son Osamu HAYAKAWA was also present. Later leaders of the community and various social and cultural organizations living in Japan participated in the open discussion on the importance of the victory day. The program ended with screening a video documentary on the liberation war of 1971.
Later in the evening, family members of the embassy joined live online at the oath taking ceremony conducted by the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka. A cultural program was also held including a cake cutting ceremony to celebrate the Victor Day.
