Rome: The Bangladesh mission in Italy celebrated Victory Day with honor and a series of events, emphasizing the commitment of expatriates to democracy, reforms, and national progress. Bangladesh Ambassador to Italy Rakibul Haque inaugurated the observance by hoisting the national flag at the embassy as the national anthem played, according to an official release received here.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the observance included a discussion and cultural programme titled “54 Years of Victory,” featuring participation from embassy officials, Bangladeshi students in Italy, community leaders, prominent expatriates, and Italian friends of Bangladesh. The event commenced with a minute’s silence in memory of the 1971 Liberation War martyrs and those who perished in the 2024 mass uprising.
Messages from the President, the Chief Adviser, and the Foreign Adviser were shared during the programme. Speakers highlighted the importance of Victory Day and expressed support for the interim government’s reform initiatives, showing optimism for a discrimination-free, developed Bangladesh. They also thanked the government for enabling expatriates to participate in the upcoming general election on February 12, 2026, via postal ballots.
Following the discussion, a cultural event featured Bangladeshi students performing patriotic songs. In his concluding remarks, Ambassador Rakibul Haque paid tribute to the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War, the 2024 uprising, and all contributors to Bangladesh’s democratic movements. He noted the embassy’s initiatives for the welfare of expatriates and the progress in Bangladesh-Italy relations under Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus’s leadership.
Ambassador Haque encouraged Bangladeshi expatriates in Italy to engage in the forthcoming election through postal voting and to continue their contributions toward building a prosperous, just Bangladesh.