Interim Bangladesh Law Adviser Asif Nazrul has described the Indian Prime Minister's X post marking Victory Day saying, "India was an ally for this victory alone, and nothing more". Victory Day or "Bijoy Dibosh" is the anniversary that commemorates 16 December where the surrender of the Pakistani military forces to the forces of India marked the very act of liberating Bangladesh on December 16, 1971.
Attaching a screenshot of Modi’s X post that paid tribute to Indian soldiers for their role in the historic victory in 1971, Nazrul wrote on Facebook in Bengali on Monday, “I strongly protest. December 16, 1971, marks Bangladesh’s Victory Day.
India was only an ally in this triumph, no more. "Today on Vijay Diwas we pay tribute to the valor and sacrifices of our courageous soldiers who have helped make India a victorious nation in 1971. Their devoted services and unrelenting will-power protected our nation and glory for us".
This day is a tribute to their extra ordinary valour and spirit that was unshaken. Their sacrifices will continue to inspire generations and remain embedded deep in the history of our nation," Modi wrote on X on Monday.
Besides Nazrul, many functionaries in the temporary government shared the same sentiments.
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam shared Nazrul's post, The Daily Star newspaper reported on Tuesday.
Anti-Discrimination Student Movement Convener Hasnat Abdullah also criticized the post of Modi.
"This was Bangladesh's Liberation War. It was for Bangladesh's independence against Pakistan. But Modi has claimed it was solely India's war and their achievement, disregarding Bangladesh's existence in their narrative," he wrote on Facebook.
When India claims this independence as their achievement, I see this as a threat to our independence, sovereignty and oneness. It's necessary for us to fight against this threat by India. We need to carry on this fight," he added.
Chief Adviser Yunus led Bangladesh Monday in marking the 54th Victory Day, his speech making no mention of founding leader Mujibur Rahman while calling deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina's administration the "world's worst autocratic government."
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