Victory Day, celebrated on December 16, marks Bangladesh’s triumph in the ninemonth War of Liberation against Pakistani occupation forces in 1971.
in the afternoon on this day, 93,000 Pakistani soldiers and their local collaborators had surrendered to the joint forces of the Indian Army and Bangladeshi freedom fighters (Muktijoddha) at the then-Race Course Maidan. Lt. Gen.
a.A.K. Niazi of Pakistan signed the Instrument of Surrender with Lt. Gen. Jagjit Singh Aurora (India/ Bangladesh Joint Forces Commander) and A.K. Khandker (Bangladesh Forces), ending the Bangladesh Liberation War and Indo-Pak War of 1971.
tens of thousands of Bengalees and the guerrillas erupted with the chants of Joy Bangla during the surrender ceremony, a humiliating event for the Pakistanis responsible for the war during which three million Bengalees were killed and more than 200,000 women raped by the occupation soldiers.
the nation celebrated this year’s Victory Day with a mix of hope and fear.
the interim government’s plan to hold the general election on February 12 has raised hope about the country’s return to the path of democracy. Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus has promised that the upcoming vote will be freest and fairest in the country’s history. Citizens hope he proves right.
the Election Commission has announced the schedule of the polls, with political parties – except the Awami League, whose activities have been suspended by the interim government – resorting to the campaign mode.
the election button has been pressed, and the government is assuring the voters that no power on earth can disrupt it. Citizens also deeply worry about the law and order situation.
the assassination attempt on Osman Hadi, an aspirant candidate for Dhaka-8 and spokesperson of Inqilab Mancha, has caused the alarm bell to ring loudly.
this has compounded the fear that the vote could be held as peacefully as has been promised. Violence is also feared during electioneering. Reports of violence – leading to deaths in some cases -are already making headlines. Many wonder if the police force, still recovering from the shock it received during the July Uprising, is mentally agile in keeping law and order under control. Figures of crimes compiled by rights groups and published in newspapers are quite disturbing.
it is unclear how the competing political parties will behave to make the elections truly free, fair, and peaceful. Voters in Bangladesh are eagerly waiting for the February 12 vote.
it has been a long they were unable to use ballots to choose their representatives.
the past three elections held by the deposed Awami League government had been mired in allegations of fraud and manipulation. With major parties like BNP boycotting those elections credibility of the power that declared the winner reached the nadir. People rejected ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s clinging to power through fraudulent elections, and the absence of a real vote in three consecutive elections had been the reason her government collapsed like a house of cards during the student-led July movement. So, voters want a real vote this time. Among the voters are also new firsttimers who would not like to miss the opportunity to make their choices count. Even though the holding of a referendum on the July Charter on the day of voting is likely to create confusion, it will not hinder the process for the voters to make their choices regarding the candidates.
this year’s Victory Day message should thus be a call for a free, fair, credible, and peaceful election.
a successful vote will help stabilize the politics and create confidence among people at home and friends abroad. Foreign powers are ready to help Bangladesh overcome this critical phase, but for that to happen, we need to behave properly.
that is the inspiration the nation and its people get from this year’s V-Day