After paying tributes to the martyrs of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation on the morning of the 53rd Vijay Diwas, the Indian Army’s Eastern Command organised the traditional military tattoo for the general public at the Royal Calcutta Turf Club (RCTC) ground on Monday evening.
Vijay Diwas commemorates the historic surrender of the Pakistan Army to the Indian Army and Mukti Bahini, the Bangladeshi guerrilla resistance group leading to Bangladesh’s independence.
A huge crowd gathered at the RCTC ground to have a glimpse of the Indian Army’s operational capabilities and weaponry, including modern drones and robotic systems. The annual military tattoo event, with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as the chief guest, on Vijay Diwas highlights the strong bond between the Eastern Command and the public.
“Eastern Command receives all kinds of support from the Government of West Bengal and especially from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee herself. This is an excellent example of cooperation between the state government and the armed forces,” says Lieutenant General Ram Chander Tiwari, the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Command.
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“We pay our homage to our Indian Army soldiers on behalf of West Bengal and all states,” said CM Banerjee as she expressed her gratitude to Lieutenant General Tiwari and the Indian Army for inviting her to be the chief guest.
After greeting the crowd at the RCTC ground, the CM addressed the audience, which included a delegation of Bangladeshi Muktijoddhas (freedom fighters). In her speech, she emphasised West Bengal’s and the Indian Army’s vital roles in Bangladesh’s liberation.
“Today we are celebrating Vijay Diwas and some people who participated in the Muktijuddho are also present. I can never forget the role of West Bengal and India and the people who sacrificed their lives in the Bangladesh freedom movement.”
