Bangladesh Forces at India’s R-Day Parade

January 27, 2021 Reference

A contingent of the Bangladesh Armed Forces participated in the Republic Day parade on January 26. The participation of the Bangladesh Armed Forces is to commemorate 50 years of the country’s Liberation War and the establishment of diplomatic ties with India.

Key Points

  • The contingent of the Bangladesh Armed Forces included 122 members and was led by Commander Lt Col Abu Mohammed Shahnoor Shawon and his deputies Lieutenant Farhan Ishraq and Flight Lieutenant Sibat Rahman.
  • The contingent included members from all three wings of Bangladesh armed forces.
  • Bangladesh Navy and Air force members in the contingent had contributed to the liberation of Bangladesh.
  • The marching contingent also wore a special “red-collar” in honor of the heroes of the 1971 war.
  • It was the 3rd time that a contingent from a foreign country took part in the Republic Day parade.
  • Before this, a contingent from France participated in the Republic Day celebrations in 2017 and a contingent from the UAE was a part of the parade in the year 2017.

India and Bangladesh will be celebrating 50 years of the establishment of diplomatic ties as well as the 50th anniversary of the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh in 2021.

The 2021 Republic Day celebrations saw fewer people due to COVID-19; the spectator size was reduced to 25,000. Also, there was no chief guest this year as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson canceled his visit due to a pandemic.