SSJ curtails Victory Day programmes

due to heightened militancy in the country.

Since 1990, the jote had been organising various programmes at different venues in the city, but this year it has to cut its programmes and venues owing to poor security situation, said the leaders at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity auditorium yesterday.

Jote President Nasiruddin Yusuf announced a three-day programme starting from December 14.

Air Vice-Marshal AK Khandaker, deputy chief commander of the Liberation War, will inaugurate the programmes at the Central Shaheed Minar at 4.00pm.

The other programmes will be staged at Dhanmondi Rabindra Sorobor and TSC of Dhaka University.

He said the programmes include discussion, song, dance, recitation, film show and reminiscing the memory of liberation war and exhibition of its various documents.

Expressing grave concern over the statement of the state minister for home that the law enforcers will be deployed only to the venues of the official programmes of the day, the jote president urged the government to provide security to their venues also.

He said the jote would write letter within a few days to the government and the police commissioner requesting necessary security.

The jote will also form a security committee with Hasan Arif as convenor and Afzal Hossain and Mizanur Rahman as joint convenor for the security of the performers, he added.

Meanwhile, a 101-member Victory Day Celebration Committee has been formed with Nasir Uddin Yusuf as convenor, while Asaduzzaman Nur and Mamunur Rashid as joint convenors. Golam Kuddus will act as chief coordinator.

Former president of the Jote Ramendu Majumder, General Secretary Golam Kuddus, Assistant General Secretary Hasan Arif and leaders Afzal Hossain, Jhuna Chowdhury, Mizanur Rahman, Ahmed Riaz, and Mazharul Islam were present at the press conference.