Bijoy Utshab 2004
The four-day long celebration was inaugurated by poet Shamsur Rahman at the Shahid Minar premises on December 13. Presided over by Nasiruddin Yousuff, the president of SSJ, Justice KM Sobhan, Kamal Lohani, Asaduzzaman Noor, Ramendu Majumder, Liaquat Ali Lucky, Mannan Heera, recitors from West Bengal Partho Ghosh and Gouri Ghosh also spoke on the occasion.
'Our spirit of Liberation War should be guarded against the anti-Liberation forces,' said Shamsur Rahman.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. As many as 80 singers of Chhayanaut, Udichi, Wrishiz, Kranti and Padatik started the programme with the National Anthem Aamar Shonar Bangla, which struck a nationalistic chord in the audience. The rendition of the popular Gono Sangeet (people's song) Purba digontey shurja uthecchey made the audience nostalgic. Poet Shamsur Rahman, accompanied by the organisers, then placed a floral wreath at the base of the Shaheed Minar. A one-minute silence was observed in memory of the martyrs of the Liberation War.
The second part of the programme featured cultural performances. Spandan's little dancers, carrying the national flower, the lotus, and some Bangla alphabets in their hands, danced to the beat of patriotic songs. Salma Akbar, Bulbul Mahalanabish, Samar Barua, Biswajit Roy and Mamun Zahid Khan presented various songs of Rabindranath Tagore, Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra, folk songs and modern songs.
Cultural groups Srote, Nibedan and Khelaghar also performed recitation, songs and dance pieces. The last attraction of the evening was Shubachan's street drama.
Rayer Bazar Intellectual Memorial, Rabindra Sarovar Open Stage at Dhanmondi, Mohila Shamity Auditorium, Mirpur Stadium and some other places of Dhaka University are the other venues of the programme. The programmes will start every day at 4pm.