The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Thousands of people yesterday rushed to the National Mausoleum to pay homage to the great heroes of the country and celebrate the 37th Victory Day. They paid tribute to the Liberation War martyrs by laying floral wreaths at the mausoleum at Savar.

The national Mausoleum took a festive look for the celebration of the nations biggest festival the Victory Day. People gathered in huge numbers in a beautiful morning of the early winter.

It was an eye-catching scene with thousands of people donning green and red garments and carrying the national flags

in hand and singing patriotic songs paying their utmost respect to those who have snatched independence for the Bangladeshis from the hand of Pakistanis occupation faces on this day in 1971.

The surrounding areas of the National Mausoleum were jam-packed with heavy crowd. The Mausoleum basement was full of flowers--symbol of people's love for the country. Political parties, socio cultural organisations, different educational institutions and civil society representatives placed wreaths at the mausoleum.

"I have come to honour there who had died for the country during the Liberation War," a seven-year-old girl said. Her mother said, "I have brought my daughter here to make her realise the spirit of our Liberation War."

"The martyrs of the Liberation War risked their lives for the country for the good of the coming generations and the new generations should feel their sacrifices and work for the development of the country," one Shahabuddin said.

At the same time people demanded the trial of the war criminals. Some of them chanted slogans demanding trial of war criminals while some took oath to fight until the war criminals are punished.

Mithun, a student, coming to honour the heroes of the Liberation War said, "The demand of the trial of the war criminals have become a national demand, they must be punished."

"At the fag end age of my life I want to see the culprits hanged, those who opposed our independence and killed Bangladeshis," an elderly freedom fighter said.

Daylong cultural programmes were held on the open stage in the Mausoleum compound.