New Delhi: A contingent of the Bangladesh armed forces participated for the first time at the Republic Day parade.
This was part of a series of events commemorating 50 years of the liberation of Bangladesh following the 1971 war between India and Pakistan. It was in December 1971 that erstwhile East Pakistan separated from what was then West Pakistan to form Bangladesh.
This event was preceded by the 1971 war between India and Pakistan which led to the surrender of around 93,000 soldiers of the Pakistan Army in Dhaka.
The Bangladesh contingent at Republic Day 2021 comprised 122 soldiers. The contingent was led by Lt Col Abu Mohammed Shahnoor Shawon and his deputies Lieutenant Farhan Ishraq and Flight Lieutenant Sibat Rahman.
The contingent comprised of personnel drawn from all three wings of the Bangladesh armed forces.
Most of the soldiers in the Bangladesh contingent belong to the 1,2,3,4,8,9, 10 and 11 batalions of the East Bengal Regiment and 1, 2 and 3 Field Artillery Regiment, These units were raised during the 1971 war between India and Pakistan.
The contingent carries with it the legacy of the liberation war of Bangladesh as soldiers of its constituent units had revolted against the Pakistan Army to fight for the independence of erstwhile East Pakistan.
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