16th December: Vijay Diwas

Tags: Important Days

Vijay Diwas is celebrated on December 16 every year to honour the victory of Indian armed forces over Pakistan in the 1971 war. On the day, India pays homage to all the soldiers who defended the nation.

• It is also quite a big day for Bangladesh, as it earned status as an independent entity. The day is celebrated in Bangladesh as ‘Bijoy Dibos.

Surrender of Pakistan Eastern Command

Officially, the Instrument of Surrender of Pakistan Eastern Command stationed in East Pakistan, was signed between Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Aurora, the GOC-in-C of Indian Eastern Command and Lieutenant-General A.A.K. Niazi, the Commander of the Pakistan Eastern Command, at the Ramna Race Course in Dacca on 16 December 1971.

• Following the surrender, the Indian Army took approximately 90,000 Pakistani servicemen and their Bengali supporters as POWs, making it the largest surrender since World War II.