<div style="text-align: justify; "><b style="font-size: 1rem;">President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today attended the parade at the National Parade Ground marking the Victory Day.</b><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">The President, also supreme commander of the armed forces division, took salute and inspected the parade on the celebration of 51 years of Bangladesh's victory.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The parade was organized and conducted by the 9th Infantry Division of Bangladesh Army under the supervision of Armed Forces Division with the directives of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">President Hamid, accompanied by Major General Mohammad Shaheenul Haque, the parade commander and also General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 9th Infantry Division and Area Commander of Savar Area, riding an open jeep inspected the parade and took the salute.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bangladesh Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, Coast Guard, Ansar, paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Bangladesh National Cadet Corps (BNCC) participated in the parade.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">President Hamid, accompanied by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also exchanged greetings with the commanders of the contingents who took part in the parade before departing from the ground.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On the occasion, the parade ground was decorated with the images of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, four national leaders, seven Birshreshthas, different development works of the government, including the image of Padma Bridge and metro rail.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Apart from this, the nearby road of the parade ground was also decorated with banners and festoons highlighting the spirit of the Liberation War and the Victory Day.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The premier along with her daughter Saima Wazed Hossain Putul and grand-daughter Samaa Hossain, the invited guests also witnessed armoury acquisitions of different regiments and contingents of the armed forces, a spectacular fly-past conducted by army aviation, helicopters of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and navy aviation.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Later, a well-decorated horse-mounted forces and dog squad team also ensured their presence on the parade ground.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">At last stage of the programme, a spectacular aerobatic display was exhibited on the occasion.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Thousands of people from all walks of life also witnessed the spectacular parade through the television and different social media that lasted for over two hours.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Earlier, on his arrival along at the parade venue at about 10.30am, Abdul Hamid was received by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque, parliament members and the chiefs of the three services and senior officers of armed forces division.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique, cabinet members, political leaders, lawmakers, foreign diplomats, senior civil and military officers were present on the occasion.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Fifty one year back, the country achieved victory through the nine-month War of Liberation against Pakistani occupation forces on this day.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On this day in 1971, Pakistani military conceded defeat to the allied forces and commanding officer of Pakistani forces general AAK Niazi surrendered arms with all members of his forces. BSS</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>