Kolkata: Eastern Command hosts Bangladesh Vijay Diwas curtain raiser event

Vijay Diwas marks India's victory in liberating neighbouring Bangladesh from Pakistan almost 50 years ago.

The event was addressed by Toufique Hasan, Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner, and Major General V Sreehari, SC, MGGS, Eastern Command, ANI reported.

While speaking to the media, Hasan thanked the Eastern Command for the invitation and informed that a 30-member Bangladeshi delegation would be coming to attend the victory celebrations from Dec 14 to 18.

"50 years back, we got our long-cherished independence after a nine-month bloody war, and we got all of our support from the Government of India, their moral and diplomatic support, their material support. They also gave us shelter, as around 1 crore people came here from Bangladesh during that time. I really feel proud that I am serving here in the Kolkata mission as the Bangladesh High Commissioner, which is the first Bangladesh mission abroad" he was quoted as saying by ANI.

In his address, the Bangladesh deputy high commissioner also highlighted the significance of the Eastern Command Headquarters.

He said the headquarters is like a heritage building for Bangladesh and its people.

Dec 16 each year is celebrated as Vijay Diwas to commemorate India’s historic victory over Pakistan. The swift and professionally planned operations executed by the Indian Armed Forces led to one of the greatest military victories recorded in the annals of World history.

It was on this day that the largest military surrender after World War II took  place at Dhaka when the General Officer-Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command, Lt Gen Jagjit Singh Arora accepted the surrender of 93,000 Pakistani troops from Lt Gen AAK Niazi of the Pakistan Army.