Staff Correspondent

The Armed Forces Day will be celebrated through various programmes on November 21 amid festivity and enthusiasm, marking the establishment of army, navy and air force during the 1971 Liberation War.

The day's programmes will begin with offering of special prayers after Fajr prayers at all mosques in all the cantonments and naval and air force bases throughout the country on the day, seeking divine blessings for the well-being and prosperity of the nation and progress of the armed forces, said an ISPR press release here this afternoon.

On the occasion, President Mohammed Shahabuddin, also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and Chief Adviser of the interim government Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus will issue separate messages.

On the eve of the day, the President and the Chief Adviser will place wreaths at the Shikha Anirban (the Eternal Flame) at Dhaka Cantonment Thursday (Nov 21) at 8 am, paying homage to the martyred armed forces' members who laid down their lives in the Liberation War in 1971.

Subsequently, the Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman, Navy Chief Admiral Mohammad Nazmul Hasan and Chief of the Air Force Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan will also lay wreaths on behalf of their respective forces. The three chiefs of the three services will also pay courtesy call on the Chief Adviser at the Department of Armed Forces Division and later the President at the Bangabhaban on the day.

On the occasion, the chief adviser will accord a reception to family members of the Bir Shreshthas and selected gallantry award winning 1971 veterans and their family members at Army Multipurpose Complex in Dhaka Cantonment at 4pm.

Among the distinguished guests - Chief Justice, former Presidents, former chief advisers, advisers, foreign diplomats, heads of international organizations, judges, secretaries, former army chiefs, former military officers, freedom award and Ekushey medal recipients, journalists, academics, political and eminent persons, coordinators of Anti-Discrimination Students Movement and retired officers will attend the programme.

The state-run Bangladesh Television (BTV) and Bangladesh Betar will live telecast the function.

Receptions will also be accorded at cantonment or bases at Barishal, Cox's Bazar, Bogura, Sylhet, Ghatail, Chattogram, Cumilla, Jashore, Rangpur and Khulna under the regional headquarters.

Various programmes have also been chalked out at different army garrisons, naval ships, installations and bases of the air force across the country outside Dhaka.

Bangladesh Navy will keep its ships open for all visitors from 2 pm until the sun sets at different Naval Berths, Rocket Ghats and BIWTA Ghats in Dhaka, Khulna, Chandpur, Barishal and Chattogram for public on the occasion of the Armed Forces Day on November 21.

A 'Bishesh Anirban' programme illustrating the significance of the day will be telecast by BTV tomorrow after the news of 8pm while the programme would be telecast later by other television channels gradually.

On November 21, the Bangladesh Betar will broadcast a programme "Bishesh Durbar" at 7.30 pm. national dailies will publish special supplements highlighting the significance of the day.

The educational institutions run by armed forces will organize essay and painting competitions marking the Armed Forces Day.