Burnley’s Bangladeshi community celebrate liberation

Zokey Ahad, assistant High Commissioner of Bangladesh, was the guest of honour at Victory Day celebrations in the town.

The event was to mark 42 years since the Asian country won the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971 against Pakistani forces.

Around 150 members of Burnley’s Bangladeshi community gathered at the Daneshouse and Stoneyholme Community Centre to hear Mr Ahad speak.

The town’s MP Gordon Birtwistle was also there to celebrate the occasion which included live music, food and entertainment.

Former councillor Mozaquir Ali, the Bangladesh Community Council founder president and patron, said: “It was a very successful event. Speakers expressed their views on how the victory on December 16th, 1971, was received.

“Why we celebrate is to remember the dead who helped win independence. It is also to pass on the message to young people about how we should still stand against tyranny and injustice and get to know about their roots and how they can be better citizens and make better contributions to the place they live in the UK.”