Victory day (Bengali: বিজয় দিবস Bijôy Dibôs) is a national holiday in Bangladesh celebrated on December 16 to commemorate the victory of the Allied forces High Command over the Pakistani forces in the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. The Commanding officer of the Pakistani Forces General AAK Niazi surrendered with his forces to the Allied forces commander Lt. Gen. Jagjit Singh Aurora, which marked ending the 9 month-long[1] Bangladesh Liberation War and 1971 Bangladesh genocide and officially secession of East Pakistan into Bangladesh. Today is National Victory Day. The 43rd anniversary of victory earned through sacrifice of enormous bloodshed. The day of emergence of Bangladesh as an independent sovereign state to this world. After a long 9 month of armed struggle, sacrificing a lot of lives and huge bloodshed, valiant Bengalis claimed the victory on this very day. After oppressing the freedom seeking of this land the Pakistani attacking force surrendered to the people on this very day. With this surrender of the Pakistani forces it came to an end of a two and a half decades of exploitation and deprivation of the Pakistanis. The nation got free from persecution and oppression. Everyone is now analyzing the gains and expectations of the 43 years spent after independence. In this 43rd anniversary of Victory the departed souls of the freedom fighters having peace – the heinous war criminals gradually being punished. The whole nation will commemorate the millions of martyrs who sacrificed themselves with utmost homage and love. For the supreme sacrifices of these great souls we got an independent and sovereign Bangladesh. At the same time strong commitment will be expressed to make Bangladesh a prosperous future oriented one. To observe the occasion many programs would be celebrated by the government and non-government initiatives. All government and non-government institutions will hoist the National flag today. Various political parties, social and cultural organizations and the educational institutes will hold programs.