Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on November 22 (Monday), on the occasion of Bangladesh Armed Forces Day (November 21).
The event for the Bangladesh Armed Forces Day was organized by the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi.
Among those present in the event were High Commissioner of Bangladesh Mr. Muhammad Imran, Ambassadors and Heads of Mission, Officers from the Armed Forces of Bangladesh and other friendly nations, and war veterans.
During his speech in the event, he congratulated the Armed Forces of Bangladesh on the 50th anniversary and wished them the very best in their endeavour towards peace and security.
"Attended the Bangladesh Armed Forces Day event today at the High Commission of Bangladesh. Recalled the heroic fight by the Muktibahini and the Indian Armed Forces in the Liberation of Bangladesh. The spirit of 1971 continues to nourish India-Bangladesh relations", tweeted the minister from his social media handle on Monday evening.
"This year is of extraordinary significance for India-Bangladesh relations, as we commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the Liberation of Bangladesh, the fifty years India-Bangladesh diplomatic ties and the birth centenary of Banga Bandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. In this momentous time, I salute the valiant struggle of the Muktibahini in the Muktijuddha – War of Liberation, 1971" said Rajnath Singh in his address.
In his speech, he also paid tribute to the sacrifices made by the brave soldiers of the Indian Armed Forces, who stood steadfast with the people of Bangladesh during the War of Liberation of Bangladesh.
The Indian defence minister described the Bangladesh War of Liberation as an unprecedented event in the history of the 20th century.
“It was a moral fight against injustice, atrocities and oppression. Ordinary people were brutally maimed and murdered. The barbaric atrocities of Operation Searchlight stirred the conscience of the world. However, the atrocities resonated strongest in the hearts and minds of ordinary Indians. Each in India truly felt that his or her own brother and sister were under attack. India herself was in poverty, but there was no hesitation in wholehearted moral and material support to the people of Bangladesh in their fight for liberation. This was a fight to the end from an oppressive and undemocratic regime, which defied people’s mandate. India gave shelter to millions of refugees even when we did not have enough for our own. A struggling nation gave shoulder to another,” he added.
He appreciated the gesture of the Bangladesh government for erecting a memorial for the Indian soldiers at Ashuganj in Bangladesh.
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