Tag: Bangladesh Army

  • In a first, Bangladesh tri-service contingent takes part in India’s Republic Day parade

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: For the first time, a marching contingent and band of Bangladesh tri-services participated in the Republic Day Parade to commemorate 50 years of its historic liberation.

    The 122-member contingent of the Bangladesh Armed Forces comprising soldiers of the Bangladesh Army, sailors of the Bangladesh Navy, and air warriors of the Bangladesh Air Force was led by the contingent Commander Lieutenant Colonel Abu Mohammed Shahnoor Shawon and his deputies, Lieutenant Farhan Ishraq and Flight Lieutenant Sibat Rahman.

    All the three services of the Bangladesh Armed Forces had played a key role in securing independence for their country in the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971.

    The representatives of the battalions that participated in Liberation War, like 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10 and 11 East Bengal Regiment and 1, 2 and 3 Field Regiment Artillery, marched in the parade.

    Bangladesh Navy had successfully conducted Operation Jackpot during the War, destroying 26 enemy ships in sea ports and river ports. The Air Force conducted 50 successful air strikes on the enemy targets during the War as part of “Kilo Flight” from the base in Dimapur, India.

    The contingent marched to the song of “Shono Ekti Mujibur-er theke lokkho Mujibur”, meaning “Listen, the voice of Mujibur which has been multiplied by hundred thousands of his followers”, played by the marching band led by Lieutenant Colonel Banazir Ahmed.

    Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, popularly known as Bangabondhu, was the central figure behind the Bangladesh Liberation Movement and the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971.

    Rahman, also known as ‘Father of the Nation’, served as the first President of Bangladesh and later as the Prime Minister from April 17, 1971 until his assassination on August 15, 1975.

    India was the first country to recognise Bangladesh as a separate and independent state and established diplomatic relations with the country immediately after its independence in December 1971.

  • Republic Day 2021: Rafales to make debut in flypast as India to show military might, cultural heritage

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: India will show its military might on Tuesday with Rafale fighter jets taking part in the Republic Day flypast for the the first time and the armed forces showcasing T-90 tanks, the Samvijay electronic warfare system, Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jets, among others, said the Defence ministry on Monday.

    Total 32 tableaus — 17 from states and union territories, six from the Defence ministry and nine from other Union ministries and paramilitary forces — depicting the nation’s rich cultural heritage, economic progress and defence prowess will roll down the Rajpath at the Republic Day parade, the ministry said in a statement.

    “School children will perform folk arts and crafts displaying skills and dexterity handed down from generations — Bajasal, one of the most beautiful folk dances of Kalahandi in Odisha, Fit India Movement and Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” the ministry noted.

    A 122-member proud contingent of the Bangladesh armed forces will also march on Rajpath on Tuesday, the ministry said.

    “The Bangladesh contingent will carry the legacy of legendary Muktijoddhas of Bangladesh, who fought against oppression and mass atrocities and liberated Bangladesh in 1971,” it added.

    India is currently celebrating the Swarnim Vijay Varsh – Golden Jubilee year – commemorating the country’s victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war that led to the creation of Bangladesh.

    The Indian Army will showcase the main battle tank T-90 Bhishma, infantry combat vehicle BMP-II-Sarath, mobile autonomous launcher of the Brahmos missile system, multi-launcher rocket system Pinaka, electronic warfare system Samvijay among others during the parade on Tuesday, the Defence ministry noted.

    The Indian Navy’s tableau at the Republic Day parade this year will showcase models of Indian naval ship (INS) Vikrant and naval operations that were conducted during the 1971 India-Pakistan war.

    The Indian Air Force (IAF) will showcase models of light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas and indigenously developed anti-tank guided missile Dhruvastra on its tableaus during the parade, the ministry noted.

    They also showcased scaled-down models of the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jet and Rohini radar on the tableaus.

    A total of 38 IAF aircraft, include Rafale, and four planes of the Indian Army will participate in the flypast on Tuesday.

    The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will have two tableaus at this year’s parade, one showcasing light combat aircraft Tejas’ successful take off from aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya in 2020, and another displaying full complement of the anti-tank guided missile systems, the Defence ministry said.

    The Republic Day parade ceremony will commence with Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting the National War Memorial.

    “He will lead the nation in paying solemn tributes to the fallen heroes by laying a wreath. Thereafter, the PM and other dignitaries will head to the saluting dais at Rajpath to witness the parade,” the ministry noted.

    As per tradition, the national flag will be unfurled followed by the national anthem with a booming 21-gun salute, it said.

    The parade will commence with President Ram Nath Kovind taking the salute, the ministry added.

    Seventeen tableaux from various states and union territories, namely, Gujarat, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Tripura, West Bengal, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Delhi and Ladakh will be showcased during the parade, depicting the geographical and rich cultural diversity of the country, it said.

    It stated these tableaux will show the vision for Ladakh to be carbon neutral, the sun temple at Modhera in Mehsana District of Gujarat, tea-tribes of Assam, shore temple and other monuments of Pallava Dynasty in Tamil Nadu, Bhakti Movement and saints of Maharashtra, etc.

  • India to display key military assets on Republic Day; contingent of Bangladesh excited to march down Rajpath

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: India will be displaying some of its key military assets, such as T-90 tanks and BrahMos missile system, during the 72nd Republic Day celebrations on Rajpath, with a marching-cum-band contingent of the Bangladesh armed forces all set to take part in the ceremonial parade for the first time.

    The leader of the 122-member contingent on Saturday thanked India for the gesture and said, the “enduring relationship” between the two countries is growing day by day.

    The Bangladeshi contingent, with members drawn from all the three wings of its armed forces, will be the first marching contingent to walk down the ceremonial boulevard on January 26.

    India’s military might and some of the state-of-the-art assets of the armed forces, including three T-90 tanks, BrahMos missile system, BMP-II, two Pinaka multiple launch rocket system, two bridge laying tanks, electronic warfare equipment Samvijay and one upgraded Schilka air defence weapon system, will be showcased during the parade on Rajpath, which will be held following COVID-19 safety guidelines.

    “This year, no new asset will be displayed, but upgraded versions of various key assets and equipment will be there,” Chief of Staff, Delhi Area, Maj Gen Alok Kacker, told reporters.

    He said 18 marching contingents – 16 marching and two animal-mounted – will take part in the parade from the armed forces, paramilitary forces, Delhi Police, National Cadet Corps and National Service Scheme, along with bands, including 15 from the military.

    The 61 Cavalry, consisting of 43 horses, will be marching down the Rajpath as part of the mounted column.

    Due to COVID-19 safety norms, there will be no motorcycle display this time, a major attraction for the crowd at Republic Day celebrations on the Rajpath, and also the veterans marching contingent will also not be there, Kacker said.

    The contingents in the parade will stop at the National Stadium this year instead of following the regular route all the way to the Red Fort, primarily due to COVID-19 safety norms, Kacker added.

    Responding to queries from reporters, he said bands and contingents have arrived from various parts of the country and about 260 members had tested COVID-19 positive out of the 3,000-odd pool, and they were quarantined and their primary contacts traced and tested, until they tested negative twice.

    “Also, the fact that the contingent size has been reduced from regular 144 to 96, gives us an in-built reserve. But, we are all safe and fresh and raring to go on Rajpath on January 26,” Kacker said.

    He said COVID-19 safety norms have been followed from day one and contingents have moved from “bubble to bubble” to minimise all scope of infection.

    A full dress rehearsal of the parade was held on Saturday morning.

    Capt Preeti Choudhary from 140 AD Regt (SP) will be commanding the upgraded Schilka weapon system as part of the mechanised column on Rajpath, officials said.

    The newly inducted Rafale fighter aircraft will feature in India’s Republic Day parade on January 26 and culminate the flypast by carrying out the ‘Vertical Charlie’ formation.

    Col Md Mohtashim Chowdhury, the leader of the Bangladesh contingent said, “We feel very fortunate that India has given our country this opportunity. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh and also we are in the midst of birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. So, we are very happy to be here.”

    The members of the contingent are drawn mostly from units raised during the 1971 war, and several other units which were raised before it, he said.

    This is the third time that a contingent from a foreign country will be taking part in the Republic Day celebrations here.

    The other two countries being France (2016) and the UAE (2017).

    According to information shared with the media, for the Beating Retreat ceremony on January 29, a special composition ‘Swarnim Vijay’, to commemorate 50 years of India’s victory in the 1971 war, has been done, besides a few other tune compositions.

    Officials on Friday had said that bravery awardee children parade on jeep will also not be there at the 72nd Republic Day event, on account of social distancing.

    Also, there will be no chief guest at the event this year.

    “This year’s Republic Day is very different as it is happening amid the coronavirus pandemic. Like in Independence Day, all chairs in enclosures will be placed following social distancing norms. So, the crowd size has come down to 25,000 this time from around 1. 25 lakh last year or some of the previous years,” an official had said.

    At Saturday’s press conference, heads of some of the marching regiments, and Param Vir Chakra winners Subedar Major Yogendra Singh Yadav and Subedar Sanjay Singh were also present, and interacted with reporters, sharing stories of valor from the Kargil war of 1999.

    Lt Gen Vijay Kumar Mishra, General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area, will be the parade commander and Maj Gen Kacker will be the Second-in-Command, officials said.

    Param Vir Chakra and Ashok Chakra awardees will be part of the parade, they said.

    A total of 32 tableaux — 17 of various states and UTs, nine of ministries and six from defence arm, including of IAF, Navy, Indian Naval Coast Guard, two from the DRDO and one from BRO (Border Roads Organisation) — will roll down Rajpath, officials said on Friday.