India Was Nothing... Bangladesh Makes Another Shocking Statement
Asif Nazrul, the law adviser for the interim administration of Bangladesh, has taken issue with indian prime minister Narendra Modi's Triumph Day post on X, claiming that "India was merely an ally in this victory, nothing more." Every year on december 16, people celebrate victory Day, also known as Bijoy Dibosh, which commemorates the 1971 military surrender of pakistan to indian forces, which resulted in the independence of Bangladesh.
Nazrul, sharing a screenshot of Modi's post, wrote on data-facebook in Bengali, "I strongly protest. december 16, 1971, is Bangladesh's victory Day. india was merely an ally in this victory, nothing more." Modi's post had honored indian soldiers for their courage and sacrifices in the 1971 war, calling it a "historic victory" for india and a testament to their "extraordinary valor."
"Today, on Vijay Diwas, we pay heartfelt tributes to all the brave heroes who dutifully served india in 1971, ensuring a decisive victory. Their valor and dedication remain a source of immense pride for the nation. Their sacrifice and unwavering spirit will forever be etched in people's hearts and our nation's history. india salutes their courage and remembers their indomitable spirit," PM Modi posted on social media on Monday.
Nazrul's views were shared by a few of the temporary government members. Shafiqul Alam, the press secretary for Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, shared Nazrul's tweet, while Hasnat Abdullah, the convener of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, also took issue with Modi's comments. "This was Bangladesh's Liberation war for independence from pakistan," Abdullah said on Facebook. In his narrative, Modi downplays Bangladesh's contribution and portrays the conflict as entirely India's doing. We must fight such assertions because they jeopardize our identity, independence, and sovereignty.
The 54th victory Day festivities were conducted by Chief Adviser Yunus on the same day, with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding leader, being left out. Additionally, Yunus called the regime of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina "the world's worst autocratic government."
The 54th victory Day festivities were conducted by Chief Adviser Yunus on the same day, with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding leader, being left out. Additionally, Yunus called the regime of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina "the world's worst autocratic government."
By signing the Instrument of Surrender, Pakistani soldiers under the leadership of Lieutenant General A.A. Khan Niazi formally turned themselves in to indian commander Lieutenant General jagjit singh Aurora on december 16, 1971. With the conclusion of the liberation struggle in east pakistan and the end of years of persecution by the West Pakistani dictatorship, this momentous day cleared the path for the creation of Bangladesh. A bloody battle and years of unrest in east pakistan came to an end with the surrender of 93,000 Pakistani soldiers, signifying the Mukti Bahini and India's allied forces' overwhelming triumph.
After Sheikh Hasina's rule fell, Bangladesh's leadership position changed. After significant anti-quota protests turned into a large popular movement calling for her resignation, a military-backed caretaker administration took office. Sheikh Hasina was forced to flee to india during the unrest, which drastically altered Bangladesh's political climate and shaped the stance of its interim government on important diplomatic and historical matters.