State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Captain (Retd) ABM Tajul Islam inaugurates the 'Muktijuddher Bijoy Mela' at MA Aziz Stadium on December 10.Photo: STAR

“I am a regular visitor of the 'Mukhtijuddher Bijoy Mela' since my childhood. I used to visit the fair with my parents during my childhood, with my friends during my college and university life and now come with my husband”.
Afsana Khan, a resident of city's Shulak Bahar area, said this at the fair while talking to this correspondent at the outer stadium in the port city. Her husband Niloy accompanied her.
The 15-day long victory fair began at the outer stadium of MA Aziz Stadium in the port city on Saturday. State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Capt (Retd) AB Tajul Islam inaugurated the fair as the chief guest, lighting the “Bijoy Shikha” (victory flame).
With a call to unite the patriotic people against the war criminals, “Muktijuddher Bijoy Mela Parishad” organised the fair with a slogan “Victory in the War of Liberation is the pride of the heroic Bangalee nation”. The fair was first organised in December in 1989 at the outer stadium.
Afsana said, “I feel proud of the fair and I would also bring my next generation in future to the fair as it is arranged marking the victory of the War of Liberation”.
Over 200 various types of stalls including bookstalls, cosmetics, jewelry, handicrafts, showpieces, food corners etc. Big industrial houses from home and abroad also take part in the fair with their products and services.
Circus show and doll dance are the two special attraction of the fair.
Tajul, in his speech, urged the people to visit the fair to get a firsthand experience in organising such a well organised fair elsewhere in the country.
National leaders, freedom fighters, litterateurs and educationists reminisce their memories about the liberation war on Bijoy Mancha, said the sources at the fair.
Drama, cultural functions and recitations are also held on the Bijoy Mancha every day in the evening.
Sources said, in the past, the fair lasted for only six days with cultural programmes of the local clubs and cultural organisations being held on the victory stage. Discussion was held on December 14 on the occasion of the Martyred Intellectuals Day and mainly the bookstalls and the stalls of handicrafts were allowed to display their items at the fair.
Later, the duration of the fair was extended to 15 days and more events were included.
ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, chairman of Muktijuddher Bijoy Mela Parishad and the city Awami League president, at a press conference on December 3, urged everybody to resist those who arrange gambling and other obscene events in the fair.
He said the parishad officials will remain alert in stopping these activities at the fair.
Faruk-e-Azam Beer Pratik, convener of the first Bijoy Mela in 1989, expressed his frustration over the deviation of this victory fair from its initial spirit.
“We initiated the fair with a view to spreading the spirit of the War of Liberation to our next generation,” he said, adding that the fair was initiated involving the people from all walks of life irrespective of race, religion and political identity.
But now, the appeal of the fair has been spoiled as it is politicised and highly commercialised, said Azam, adding that the fair has now become merely a trade fair.
He said Shaheed Janani Jahanara Imam, addressing a huge gathering on the platform of victory in “Muktijuddher Bijoy Mela-1989”, inspired us to organise the movement against the war criminals, including Ghulam Azam.