Victory Day Cycle Rally held at Shahid Minar, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Bangladesh celebrated its victory day on December 16, 2022, with due dignity and honor. In 1971, on this day, after nine months of a long bloody war, the brave child of Bangladesh snatched the long-cherished freedom of Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) from west Pakistan.
On that auspicious day at 11 am, a glorious Victory Cycle Rally was held with cyclists of various ages at and around the Central Shaheed Minar, Dhaka, the historical place from where the Bengali nationhood began through the bloody language movement of 1952.
The event has been jointly organized by Green Movement Ltd. and Bangladesh Tourist Cyclist to inspire environmental awareness and patriotism among the young generation.
The Green Page was the media partner of that rally. The Cycle rally was also held, demanding- protection from environmental pollution by establishing separate bicycle lanes along with parking facilities in marketplaces, educational institutions, and office courts in every part of the country and creating a bicycle network.
Md. Aminul Islam Tubbus, President of Bangladesh Tourist Cyclist, presided over the event, and Dr. A. A. M.S. Arefin Siddique, the Former Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University, was present as the chief guest. Humayun Kabir, General Secretary of Dhaka Metropolitan South Awami League, was present as a special guest.
Md. Mahfuzur Rahman, the Superintending Engineer of the Bangladesh Water Development Board and chief advisor of Green Page, gave a speech on environmental awareness during the event.
The distinguished environmentalist said, “The world is facing a threat to sustaining its existence today due to environmental pollution. People’s limitless greed, dreams of becoming bigger and bigger, and excessive love of comfort have taken Mother Earth to the brink of destruction today.
Due to unplanned urbanization and excessive industrial production, the world’s environment is severely polluted with industrial, chemical, and newly emerging electronic wastes. Emissions of greenhouse gases (Methane, Carbon dioxide, Nitrous oxide, etc.) into the atmosphere are rapidly increasing due to fossil fuels such as diesel, petrol, octane powered motor vehicles.
As a result, Now a day, natural disasters such as floods, droughts, landslides, tsunamis, tidal waves, and cyclones are increasing abruptly and disastrously.”
The environmentalist emphasized promoting the use of fuel-free bicycles instead of fossil fuel-powered motor vehicles, saying, “17% of the greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere are due to the use of fossil fuels which costs us precious foreign exchange.
However, if the government expands the use of bicycles by increasing its facilities, the use of fossil fuel-powered vehicles will decrease to a large extent. This will save the country a lot of foreign exchange, which can use in agricultural production, food purchase, education, health, and social welfare. Increasing the use of bicycles will significantly reduce the traffic jams markedly in the country and increase working hours, leading to the country’s rapid development.
Besides, cycling will keep the citizens fit and healthier, reducing government spending on health and increasing the workforce. Furthermore, cycling will reduce the commuting costs of citizens. And the biggest benefit will be that it will reduce the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and improve the environment. ‘’
Humayun Kabir, in the speech of the special guest, firstly talks about the activities and contributions of Bangabandhu, the greatest father of the Bengali nation, from 1954 to 1975 for shaping today’s Bangladesh.
He further said that protecting the environment is the main agenda of the honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Hon’ble Prime Minister is very conscious of development and environmental protection, reflected in her speeches, statements, and activities.
He said, “I am declaring solidarity towards the use of bicycles and urge the mayors of the city corporations to implement separate bicycle lanes in Dhaka city and establish bicycle parking everywhere.”
At the event, Manjur Hossain Isa, Chairman of the National Human Rights Association, paid tribute to Bangabandhu, the undisputed leader of the Bengali nation and the brave freedom fighter of the Bengali nation. He said, “We have to start a war again to build a beautiful world by de-polluting the global environment.”
Quoting UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ speech delivered at the climate conference (COP 27) in Egypt,
“The world is now on the highway to climate hell,” Professor Dr. AMS Arefin Siddique said that we must focus on preventing rapid climate change by de-polluting the environment.
He further said, “Untimely floods and cyclones are due to climate change. Today December 16, is passing without feeling any cold of winter, whereas, in the past, there was no chance for anyone to stand here without winter clothes.
From this, it is easy to understand how much the earth’s temperature has increased now a day. So we must act to prevent climate change.”
He mentioned the increase in facilities for cycling, including the establishment of a separate cycle lane during his tenure as Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University to promote the use of bicycles, and said that bicycles not only protect the environment but also promote good health. A cyclist is protected from many diseases besides diabetes. ‘’
He confirms his spontaneous participation in any program/rally to promote the cycle.
Md. Aminul Islam Tubbus, President of Bangladesh Tourist Cyclist, thanked the chief guest, special guests, well-wishers, and participating cyclists.
He expressed disappointment that due to the lack of patronage, the movement related to promoting bicycle use, including the bicycle rally, stagnated daily and called upon everyone to speed up this movement in the future.
Among others, Mohammad Ali Rimon, President of Mirpur Stunt Boys club, Rafikul Islam, a prominent writer and tourist researcher, Manowar Hossain, Keraniganj Cycling General Secretary, Najimu Uddin Najim, National Committee Member Secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Bachao Andolon, Mohammad Mus, member of BD Click, Tahajzat Hossain, President of Dhanmondi Tourist Cyclist, Shahidul Mahmud Shahidullah Pramukh, President of Dhaka Youth Foundation were also present at the cycle rally.
In the cultural program, dance performances were performed by eminent dance artist and actress Nahar Kana and her troupe artists and others.
Three to four hundred cyclists from the central Shaheed Minar to Doel Chatwar, Bangla Academy, participated in the rally.
In tune with the victory song of cyclists performed by musicians and dancers, people of various ages cycled in the beautiful atmosphere of Dhaka University. The event by distributing certificates who worked and participated in the rally.
