Bangladesh honours Indian bravehearts of 1971 war posthumously
Kolkata, Dec 17: The Bangladesh government, on the occasion of ‘Vijay Diwas’, on Sunday posthumously honoured 12 Indian Armed Forces personnel for sacrificing their lives during the 1971 Indo-Pak War.
Describing the honouring of the families of the martyred personnel as a great initiative by the Bangladesh government, GOC-in-C Eastern Command of the Army Lt Gen M M Naravane said the process of honouring martyred soldiers will continue in the years to come and it will strengthen the bond between the two countries.
“We were forced into this conflict because of a humanitarian crisis of gigantic proportion, resulting in the annihilation of Pakistan Army and the birth of Bangladesh,” Naravane said.
“Very rarely it has happened that when two countries fight, a third country is born,” he said.
The Bangladesh government has decided to honour over 1,600 Indian Armed Forces personnel who laid down their lives in the eastern theatre during the 1971 Indo-Pak War.
Vijay Diwas (victory day) is celebrated every year on this day to mark India’s decisive win over Pakistan and the birth of Bangladesh.
The families of seven Indian Army soldiers, two Air Force, two BSF personnel and one Navy personnel were handed over ‘Sammanana’ plaques by Bangladesh Minister of Liberation War Affairs A K M Mozammel Haque at the Indian Army’s Eastern Command Headquarter Fort William here.
The Bangladesh delegation included 30 ‘Muktijoddhas’, who took part in the liberation war, and six serving officers of Bangladesh’s Armed Forces.