India just ally in 1971 War, nothing more: Naya Bangladesh leaders on Modi post

Several leaders of the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government in Bangladesh on Monday reacted sharply to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message on Vijay Diwas, saying that the victory of 1971 belonged to Bangladesh, and India was merely an ally in the struggle. The leaders include Yunus’ law advisor Asif Nazrul, well-known India-critic and student leader Hasnat Abdullah and a member of Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). One of the student leaders presented the message as a “direct threat to Bangladesh’s independence and territorial integrity”.

Vijay Diwas, observed on December 16, commemorates India’s decisive victory over Pakistan in the 1971 War. The defeat resulted in the liberation of East Pakistan from Islamabad’s control and the birth of Bangladesh.

It was on December 16, 1971, that the Pakistani forces commander, Lieutenant General AA Khan Niazi, surrendered in front of Indian commander Jagjit Singh Aurora and signed the ‘surrender instrument’. The surrender, along with 93,000 Pakistani forces, brought an end to East Pakistan’s years-long agitation against the cruel regime of West Pakistan.

This change in stance from the Bangladesh leadership comes after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s regime. A military-backed caretaker government took over as Hasina was forced to seek refuge in India after anti-quota protests turned into a massive public agitation seeking her removal.

“Today, on Vijay Diwas, we pay heartfelt tributes to all the brave heroes who dutifully served India in 1971, ensuring a decisive victory. Their valour and dedication remain a source of immense pride for the nation. Their sacrifice and unwavering spirit will forever be etched in people’s hearts and our nation’s history. India salutes their courage and remembers their indomitable spirit,” PM Modi posted on social media on Monday.

The post didn’t have any mention of Bangladesh or Pakistan.

Asif Nazrul, law adviser to Muhammed Yusuf, “strongly condemned” the message, calling India just an ally in the victory.

“I strongly protest. December 16, 1971, was the day of Bangladesh’s victory. India was an ally in this victory, nothing more,” Asif Nazrul wrote on Facebook.

PM Modi’s message on Vijay Diwas also attracted harsh reaction from Hasnat Abdullah, an important coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, who had been protesting against the regime of ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

DIRECT THREAT TO BANGLADESH’S INDEPENDENCE, ALLEGES HASNAT ABDULLAH

Hasnat Abdullah, who had earlier called for banning Isckon and called for the hanging of jailed Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu, also criticised PM Modi’s congratulatory post on Vijay Diwas.

“This is Bangladesh’s Liberation War. The war was fought for Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan. But Modi has claimed that it was solely India’s war and achievement. In doing so, they’ve completely ignored the existence of Bangladesh,” Abdullah posted on Facebook on Monday.

“When India claims this independence as their own victory, I see it as a direct threat to the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Bangladesh,” he added.

Hasnat Abdullah did not stop here, and declared the need for a continued fight against India.

“It is inevitable that we must continue our struggle against this threat from India. Our fight must go on,” added Abdullah.

A leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), whose senior joint secretary general, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, last week burned a Jaipuri bedsheet and called for boycotting Indian products, also joined Asif Nazrul and Hasnat Abdullah in condemning and protesting against Narendra Modi’s post.

Ishraque Hossain, a member of the BNP’s Foreign Relations Committee, called PM Modi’s post “misleading”.

“I strongly condemn and protest against Narendra Modi’s misleading statement on 16th December, Bangladesh’s Victory Day. Modi’s words clearly undermine our liberation war, our sovereignty, our martyrs and our dignity. Such moves will not be helpful for bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India,” BNP leader Hossain wrote on X.

India, on Monday celebrated the Vijay Diwas commemorating the 1971 victory, when the Indian Army, the Air Force and the Navy launched an all-out offensive on East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), was up in arms against the atrocious rule of West Pakistan.

Then Indian PM Indira Gandhi, faced with more than 1 crore refugees from East Pakistan, declared war on Pakistan, with the aim of liberating East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) from Islamabad’s rule.