Bangladeshi war veterans reach Kolkata for Vijay Diwas, Mamata Banerjee to attend event
International Desk
‘Mukti Joddhas’ or war veterans of Bangladesh arrived in Kolkata on Sunday for the Vijay Diwas celebrations in the Eastern Command headquarters on 16 December.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will make her first appearance at the event, reports News18.
Vijay Diwas is celebrated to honour the Indian Army for its victory in the 1971 war against Pakistan that gave birth to Bangladesh. Every year, war veterans of Bangladesh, who were an essential part of the guerrilla resistance force Mukti Bahini, come to the Eastern Command headquarters in Kolkata to mark the occasion. In 2022, 29 Mukti Joddhas and six Bangladesh Army personnel attended the event.
After former PM Sheikh Hasina fled Bangladesh and sought refuge in India, the relationship between the two countries has seen a change, amid efforts to maintain a stable diplomatic relationship.
Earlier, there was uncertainty over the visit of Mukti Jodhhas for the event, but at least eight war veterans have arrived. They will be present at the wreath-laying ceremony and also for the special military tattoo show.
Last week, Foreign Secretary of India Vikram Mistri met the Chief Advisor of Bangladesh Prof Muhammad Yunus. This came two weeks after the arrest of ISKCON devotee Chinmoy Krishna Prabhu in Bangladesh.
Relations between the two countries are closely watched by the international fraternity, making Vijay Diwas different and important.
