Serving defence officers to join B'desh Victory Day programme

Serving officers of the Indian armed forces will join the Victory Day celebrations of Bangladesh for the first time on December 16 in its capital Dhaka.
The day, celebrated as Vijay Diwas in India, will also witness the participation of 72 representatives from the neighbouring country, including senior Bangladeshi Army officers, Mukti Joddhas (freedom fighters) and MPs, at the Eastern Command headquarters here.
A 30-member Indian delegation will visit Dhaka to mark the 47th anniversary of Bangladesh liberation from Pakistan, Major General R Nagraj, Major General General Staff, Eastern Command, said here.
"The delegation will include four serving officers of the Indian defence forces - two from Indian Army and one each from IAF and Indian Navy - apart from war veterans and other dignitaries," he said.

This is the first time, serving officers of Army, Air Force and Navy will be participating in the celebrations at Dhaka, to commemorate the victory of Indian Armed Forces and the Mukti Joddhas over the Pakistani Armed Forces, Nagraj said.
The Vijay Diwas celebrations will commence here on December 13 with a military band concert at Princep Ghat, beside Fort William, the headquarters of Indian Army's Eastern Command.

On December 14, a helicopter show and a band performance have been arranged at Royal Calcutta Turf Club (RCTC). The concert and shows will be open to the public, Nagraj said.
An interaction between the visiting Mukti Joddhas and war veterans has also been scheduled at Fort William on December 15.

On December 16, a wreath-laying ceremony will be held at Vijay Smarak to remember all those who laid down their lives in the 1971 war.