Usanewsonline.com desk:  The Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC today celebrated the 52nd Victory Day of Bangladesh, remembering the valiant Freedom Fighters who fought and made the supreme sacrifice for the cause of long-aspired independence of the Bangalee nation.
To commemorate the glorious Victory Day, the Embassy arranged a daylong program.

The day's first part of the program began with the hoisting of the National Flag ceremonially on the chancery premises in the morning by Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Muhammad Imran. Officials and employees of the Embassy were present at that time.

Later, the Ambassador along with officials and employees of the embassy placed a floral wreath at the bust of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the Bangabandhu Corner of the Embassy.

The messages issued on the occasion of the Victory Day by President Md. Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Minister Dr. A.K. Abdul Momen, and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam were read out by Deputy Chief of Mission Ferdousi Shahriar, Minister (Commerce) Md. Salim Reza, Counsellor (Public Diplomacy) Arifa Rahman Ruma and Counsellor (Political-I) Mohammad Moniruzzman.

A special prayer seeking continued peace, progress and development of the nation as well as eternal peace of the departed soul of martyrs of the Liberation War and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was offered.

In the second part of the program, a discussion session highlighting the significance of the day was held at the Bangabandhu Auditorium in the evening.

Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA Muhammad Imran and Deputy Assistant Sectary in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA), US Department of State, Ms Afreen Akhter delivered their speeches at the discussion.

Ambassador Imran, in his welcome remarks, extended heartfelt greetings to the countrymen and expatriate Bangladeshis on the occasion of the great Victory Day.

He recalled with profound respect the greatest Bengali of all time and the founding Father of Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He also paid deep homage to three million martyrs for their supreme sacrifices and two hundred thousand women dishonored during the Liberation War.

The Ambassador said the Victory Day is a glorious day for the Bangalee nation. On this day in 1971, the Bangalee nation, under the undaunted leadership of Bangabandhu, achieved the ultimate victory after 23 years of intense political struggle and the nine-month-long War of Liberation, he said.

Ambassador Imran called upon all to work from their respective position under the leadership of Bangabandhu's able daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for building a hunger-and-poverty-free happy and prosperous Bangladesh as dreamt by the Father of the Nation and three million martyrs.

Afreen Akhter, in her address, said the United States sees Bangladesh as a truly important strategic partner and looks forward for next 50 years of strong relationships.

She said in the last 50 years Bangladesh-USA relations have seen incredible progress between our peoples, economies and governments. The people to people ties between the two countries are very deep, Afreen Akhter noted.

Praising Bangladesh's progress in different sectors, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary said Bangladesh's economy has expanded to largely agriculture society to economic powerhouse over the just few decades.

This is story to really be proud of that Bangladesh has lifted millions of people out of poverty and country will achieve middle income status within generations which is truly remarkable, she said.

Beyond the economic cooperation, Afreen Akhter mentioned the close partnership between the two countries in providing COVID-19 vaccines and addressing climate change issue. She thanked the Bangladesh government hosting a huge number of displaced Rohingyas.

The day’s other program ended with a colourful cultural function. Embassy officials and their spouses performed patriotic songs at the event, while James Brennan Flanigan of US State Department recited a poem of leading poet Shamsur Rahman. The artistes of Dhroopodi, a Bangladeshi-American cultural organisation, performed group dances on patriotic songs.

Counsellor Shameema Yasmin Smrite and First Secretary Md Ataur Rahman conducted the evening and morning parts of the program respectively. The Embassy also arranged a photo exhibition on the great Victory Day.

Ambassadors and senior diplomats from different countries, senior officials of the US government and members of Bangladeshi diaspora and family members of the officials and employees of the Embassy were present on the occasion.