30 liberation fighters from Bangladesh to attend Vijay Diwas

Thirty Muktijoddhas, (liberation fighters) from Bangladesh, who were among those who played a pivotal role in the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971 leading to the birth of the nation, will take part in the Vijay Diwas celebrations here Dec 16.

Vijay Diwas is celebrated by the Eastern Command every Dec 16 to mark India's victory in the 1971 war with Pakistan that resulted in the formation of Bangladesh.

Also participating will be six former army commanders and ex-Chief of Army Staff General Shankar Roychowdhury. The Muktijoddhas would be joined by their families.

"This year, 82 people, including 30 Muktijoddhas along with some serving officers from the Bangladesh defence forces and their families will be arriving here as we honour them on the occasion of Vijay Diwas," Major General Bipin Rawat of the Eastern Command told reporters here.

"Six of our erstwhile army commanders would be gracing this occasion. Ex-chief of Army Staff General Shankar Roychowdhury will also be present."

The Eastern Command will commemorate Vijay Diwas between Dec 14 and 16 this year in the memory of all those who sacrificed their lives for the sake of defending their nation.

The India-Pakistan war of 1971 commenced when Pakistan Dec 3, 1971 launched a series of pre-emptive air strikes on India.

Dec 16, Dhaka, capital of erstwhile East Pakistan, fell. Pakistan army Lt. Gen. Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi with 96,000 troops under his command surrendered to the Indian armed forces. The surrender was accepted by then Eastern Command GOC-in-C Lt. Gen. Jagjit Singh Aurora when Gen Niazi signed the Instrument of Surrender. It signalled the birth of Bangladesh.

Rawat stressed that meetings during the Vijay Diwas are to "exchange views, to revive old memories and continue forward the bonhomie between India and Bangladesh."

When asked about the situation in Bangladesh, Rawat said: "I would not like to personally comment on the ongoing situation in Bangladesh because it is the internal affairs of the country and as you know we are democratic nation and Bangladesh is a democratic nation ... any democratic nation has a right to operate in whatever way they so desire."