High Commission of India
Dhaka

Press Release

A Delegation from Bangladesh consisting of three serving officers led by Major General Muhammed Maswood, M Sc along with spouses and 14 (fourteen) Mukti Jodhas led by Major General (Retired) Jamil D. Ahsan, Bir Protik, psc, left for Kolkata on 14 December 2008 to celebrate ‘Vijay Diwas’ at the invitation of the Government of India.

The delegation has been invited for the ‘Vijay Diwas’ celebrations at Kolkata from 14 to 17 December 2008. India commemorates 16 December each year as ‘Vijay Diwas’ in memory of soldiers, sailors, air warriors and civilians of the Indian Armed forces and Mukti Jodhas of Bangladesh in 1971, who took part in the War of Liberation leading to the establishment of independent Bangladesh.

The Indian Army, in combination with the Bangladesh freedom fighters routed the enemy and, on 16 December, within just 12 days, Dhaka fell and a nation was born. On this day, the Pakistani Commander Lieutenant General AAK Niazi with his troops surrendered to the Indian Armed Forces headed by the then General Officer Commanding in Chief Eastern Command, Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Aurora, by signing the instrument of surrender.

To commemorate this day, the valiant freedom fighters of Bangladesh are invited each year by the Government of India to Kolkata. This year, in addition to Mukti Jodhas, three serving officers’ have been invited for the first time. In addition to laying of wreaths at the War Memorial “Vijay Smarak” by Major General (Retd) Jamil Uddin Ahsan and Major General Muhammed Maswood, the Bangladesh delegation will attend various other functions that have been organised in Kolkata on the occasion.

The commemoration includes, interalia, a barakhana and a reception. Indian War veterans of the 1971 War and various civilian and military dignitaries will also attend these celebrations. The delegation will return to Dhaka on 17 December 2008.

Dhaka
December 14, 2008