On the occasion of Vijay Diwas, several commemorative functions were organised across the country to pay homage to the martyrs who laid down their lives in the service of the nation.
This is the day on which India defeated Pakistan in the war of 1971. Bangladesh also celebrated the 42nd Victory Day marking the historic triumph of the Indian army and Mukti Bahini over the Pakistan armed forces in 1971.
16th December 1971 is the most important day in the history of Bangladesh. The day is also equally important for India as on this day Pakistan Army General AAK Niazi along with 93,000 soldiers surrendered unconditionally to the Lt. General Jagjit Singh Arora of Indian army.
The Indo-Pakistani conflict was sparked by the Bangladesh Liberation war, a conflict between the traditionally dominant West Pakistanis and the majority East Pakistanis.
The Bangladesh Liberation war ignited after the 1970 Pakistani elections, in which the East Pakistani Awami League, led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman won a clear majority and claimed the right to form the government.
But the Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s Pakistan Peoples Party did not wish to yield the premiership of Pakistan to Mujibur Rahman.
President Yahya Khan called the military, dominated by West Pakistanis, to suppress the dissent. Mujibur Rahman was arrested and taken to West Pakistan.
The Pakistan army conducted a widespread genocide against the residents of East Pakistan, leading to approximately 10 million people fleeing East Pakistan and taking refuge in the neighboring India.
The East Pakistan-India border was opened to allow refugees safe shelter in India. The resulting flood of impoverished East Pakistani refugees placed an intolerable strain on India’s already overburdened economy.
The Indian government repeatedly appealed to the international community, but failed to elicit any response. The then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi expressed full support of her government for the independence struggle of the people of East Pakistan.
After a war lasting nine months and with the aid of India, East Pakistan seperated from West Pakistan and became the independent state of Bangladesh on 16 December 1971.
Mujibur Rahman was released from a West Pakistani prison, returned to Dhaka on 10th January 1972 and became first President of Bangladesh and later its Prime Minister.
To recognise India’s contribution to the liberation of Bangladesh, the highest civilian award of that country was posthumously conferred on Late Indira Gandhi and Congress President Sonia Gandhi received this award in Dhaka in July this year. The day is also observed in Bangladesh as Bijoy Dibosh.