POBNEWS24, Dhaka Dec 16, 2021 : Indian President Ram Nath Kovind attended the 50th Vijay Diwas celebrations in Dhaka on Thursday marking the liberation of Bangladesh and surrender of the Pakistani forces on 16th December 1971. President Kovind was the only foreign dignitary who attended the event as the Guest of Honour. He observed the marching contingents at the National Parade Ground in Dhaka. A tri-services contingent from the Indian armed forces also participated in the parade.
Col Vinay Sadasivan led the 122 member tri-services contingent from the Indian armed forces. Indian Air Force paratrooper Wing Commander T Asha Jyothirmayi joined the Bangladeshi parajumpers carrying the Indian tricolour, marking the sacrifice of soldiers of the Indian army who lost lives in the liberation war. The 122 member tri-services marching contingent from India armed forces includes 36 from Army, 14 from Navy, 21 from Air Force and 34 personnel from military band in Bangladesh. While marching past the dais the band played the tune of ‘Sare Jahan se Accha’. The military band also played ‘Kadam Kadam Badhaye Ja,’ ‘Jai Bharti’, and ‘Sound Barrier’ on this occasion.
Contingents of Bhutan and Russia also participated in the parade. Bhutan was the first country to recognise Bangladesh as a free nation and Russia had extended its support to the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971.
In the evening President Kovind will participate in the Independence day celebrations and the concluding ceremony of birth centenary celebrations of Bangandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the Bangladesh Parliament, Jatiya Sangsad.
President Kovind is scheduled to meet the liberation war fighters of Bangladesh called Muktijoddha as well as Indian veterans on Friday. He will also interact with a cross section of Bangladeshi society and visit places of cultural and historical importance in Dhaka before returning back to India on Friday, 17 December.
The invitation to the President at the 50th Victory Day by Bangladesh shows the strong bond between both countries. The first visit of President Kovind to Bangladesh is of high importance as both countries are also celebrating the golden jubilee of their diplomatic ties along with the golden jubilee of independence of Bangladesh and the birth centenary year of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Dr Suvhas Sarkar a Gynecologist and Indian Politician. He was elected to the Lok Sabha, lower house of the Parliament of the India from Bankura West Bengal in the 2019 Indian general election as a Member of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He wascurrently serving as the Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Education (India) in the Second Modi Ministry also were present with president visit here.
