Bangladesh has strongly rejected attempts to distort the historical narrative of the 1971 Liberation War, citing observations from the late J.N. Dixit, a former Indian Foreign Secretary, in his book Liberation and Beyond: Indo-Bangladesh Relations.
In a statement shared on its verified Facebook page on Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasised that Bangladesh’s independence was achieved on 16 December 1971 following a prolonged struggle and a nine-month brutal war. The ministry affirmed, “We celebrate our glorious Victory in 1971; we celebrate the Truth.”
The post, titled “Facts in History,” highlighted an excerpt from Dixit’s book criticizing the absence of General M.A.G. Osmani, the Bangladeshi Commander of the Joint Command, at the surrender ceremony in Dhaka. According to Dixit, Osmani’s exclusion from the event was a “major political mistake” that fueled misunderstandings between Bangladesh and India in the early days of independence.
Dixit noted: "The formal excuse explaining his absence was that his helicopter did take off but could not reach Dhaka in time for the surrender schedule. But there was widespread suspicion that his helicopter had been sent astray so that he could not reach Dhaka in time and the focus of attention at the ceremony was riveted on the Indian military commanders. This was an unfortunate aberration which India could have avoided."
The ministry’s comments came amidst a wave of public reaction to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s social media posts commemorating Bangladesh’s Victory Day. In a message shared on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, Modi wrote:
"Today, on Vijay Diwas, we honour the courage and sacrifices of the brave soldiers who contributed to India’s historic victory in 1971. Their selfless dedication and unwavering resolve safeguarded our nation and brought glory to us. This day is a tribute to their extraordinary valour and their unshakable spirit. Their sacrifices will forever inspire generations and remain deeply embedded in our nation’s history."
Modi’s remarks sparked mixed responses on social media, with many in Bangladesh criticizing the tone of the message for downplaying the central role of Bangladesh in the war.
Prominent figures, including Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Asif Nazrul, publicly expressed their discontent. In a Facebook post, Nazrul strongly protested Modi’s statement, asserting, “The day 16 December 1971 was the day of victory for Bangladesh. India was an ally of this victory, nothing more.”
