The 53rd Vijay Diwas, marking the victory in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, is being observed in Kolkata on Monday. A Bangladeshi delegation comprising Muktijoddhas (freedom fighters) and both former and serving army personnel arrived to participate in the event organised by the Indian Army’s Eastern Command at its headquarters in Fort William.
The day serves as a powerful reminder of the historic struggle of the Indian Army and the Mukti Bahini, a Bangladeshi guerrilla resistance group, against Pakistan’s atrocities during the 1971 Liberation War. Their joint efforts led to the Pakistan Army's surrender, leading to Bangladesh’s independence.
Despite recent tensions between India and Bangladesh following the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August, there were concerns that this year’s Vijay Diwas in Kolkata might lack a Bangladeshi delegation. However, the delegation from the neighbouring country arrived in the city on Sunday. They attended the event at Fort William to pay tributes to the martyrs of the 1971 war.
The day started with Indian Army bands performing patriotic songs, followed by a helicopter showering flowers over the Vijay Smarak at Fort William. Lieutenant General Ram Chander Tiwari, the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Command, and other military officials paid homage. West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose, the chief guest, and former Chief of the Air Staff Arup Raha were also present at the commemoration. The event concluded with a group photo next to the Vijay Smarak.
“Today is a red-letter day in the annals of the brave hearts of the Indian armed forces, not just for India but for the entire democratic world. This day marks the liberation of people from oppression,” said Governor Bose. “The Indian armed forces played stellar role in the 1971 victory. We are all encouraged by the brave hearts. India knows how to come together, keep together and work together.”
Officials from both nations emphasised the importance of fostering peace and goodwill between India and Bangladesh. When questioned about recent anti-India remarks made by a former Bangladeshi Army official, a member of the Bangladeshi delegation dismissed them as baseless, affirming that such statements would not damage the enduring bonds of brotherhood between the two countries.
