Bangladesh achieved independence through nine months of armed struggle against the Pakistani occupying forces. In the final phase of the war, the Indian Army joined this struggle. As a result, India also observes 16 December as its Victory Day.
However, the historical reality is that the principal victory belonged to Bangladesh, because it was on this day that Bangladesh attained its long-cherished independence.
On the occasion of Victory Day, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a post on Facebook on Tuesday (16 December). In the post, he referred to 16 December 1971 as India’s Victory Day, but did not mention Bangladesh even once.
In his post, Modi wrote:
“On Vijay Diwas, we remember our brave soldiers whose courage and sacrifice ensured India’s historic victory in 1971. Their steadfast resolve and selfless service protected our nation and created a glorious moment in our history. This day honours their bravery and reminds us of their extraordinary spirit. The valour of these soldiers continues to inspire generations of Indians.”
Earlier, the Indian Army also shared a post on the occasion of Victory Day. Referring to the bravery of the freedom fighters, it stated:
“Vijay Diwas is not just a date—it is a symbol of the historic and decisive victory of the Indian Armed Forces in the 1971 war.”
Mentioning that Indian soldiers fought shoulder to shoulder with the freedom fighters, the Indian Army said:
“This was a victory in which the Mukti Bahini and the Indian Armed Forces fought together. This joint struggle took Bangladesh’s liberation movement to its ultimate goal of independence. This victory reshaped the history of the Indian Army, redrew the map of South Asia, and gave birth to the new state of Bangladesh.”
The post further stated:
“This war brought an end to the brutality, oppression, and cruelty inflicted by the Pakistani army on an entire nation.”