Why India celebrates Vijay Diwas on December 16?

Team Udayavani, Dec 17, 2020, 11:32 AM IST

Vijay Diwas is celebrated in India on December 16 to commemorate the victory of Indian armed forces over Pakistan in 1971 Indo-Pak War, also known as Bangladesh Liberation War.

On December 16, 1971, chief of the Pakistani forces, General AAK Niazi, along with 93,000 troops, surrendered to Indian Army. This led to the subsequent secession of East Pakistan into Bangladesh.

Nearly one-third army of Pakistan was captured by Indian forces. It was a 13-day India-Pakistan war which began on December 13th, 1971 sparked by the revolt in erstwhile East Pakistan against the government of Islamabad.

Vijay Diwas is also celebrated as ‘Bijoy Dibos’ or Bangladesh Liberation Day in Bangladesh, which signifies the official independence of Bangladesh from Pakistan. Bangladesh celebrates its independence day on December 16 every year. It was the Indian Army’s one of the biggest victories ever made against Pakistan.

A delegation of 58 Mukti Joddhas (freedom fighters) and serving officers of the Bangladesh Armed Forces on Monday reached Kolkata on the invitation of the Eastern Command to participate in Vijay Diwas celebrations on December 18