The victory in the war, culminating in the surrender of over 90,000 Pakistani soldiers on December 16, 1971, marked the birth of Bangladesh as an independent country.
President Droupadi Murmu led the nation on Saturday in paying homage to the brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the 1971 war, a historic event that reshaped the political map of South Asia and brought an end to the atrocities unleashed by the Pakistani army on millions of Bangladeshi people.
The victory in the war, culminating in the surrender of over 90,000 Pakistani soldiers on December 16, 1971, marked the birth of Bangladesh as an independent country. India observes December 16 as Vijay Diwas to commemorate this significant milestone.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his heartfelt tribute to the courageous soldiers, emphasizing that their sacrifice and unwavering spirit would forever be etched in the nation's history. In a post on X, he stated, "Today, on Vijay Diwas, we pay heartfelt tributes to all the brave heroes who dutifully served India in 1971, ensuring a decisive victory. Their valour and dedication remain a source of immense pride for the nation."
President Murmu echoed similar sentiments, stating, "The nation remembers with gratitude the selfless sacrifice made by our armed forces during the 1971 war. On Vijay Diwas, I pay homage to the bravehearts who displayed unparalleled courage and achieved historic victory."
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also recalled the "indomitable courage and valour" of the armed forces personnel in the war. He expressed pride in the fearlessness with which the armed forces protected the country, noting that their sacrifice and service would forever be etched in the nation's collective memory.
"I bow to the brave hearts of our armed forces on the occasion of Vijay Diwas. On this day our soldiers won a glorious victory against Pakistani forces in 1971 and secured the dignity of life, women and human values, as a consequence of which a new nation Bangladesh was formed. The sacrifices and valor of our forces will remain a pillar of courage for eternity," posts Union Home minister Amit Shah.
To mark the day, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh laid a wreath and paid homage to the fallen heroes at the National War Memorial. Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Pande, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar, Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane, and Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal AP Singh also paid their respects.
Eastern Army Commander Lieutenant General Rana Pratap Kalita on Saturday in Kolkata said, "The grand victory of 1971 continues to inspire all ranks of the Armed forces guiding us in our continuous endeavour to maintain vigilance in safeguarding our nation against any potential threat."