AFVOA Newletters of Year 2013

Page 26 of 61 17 Dec 2012 We visited “Shikha Anirban” the Liberation War Memorial in the main Cantt at Dhaka. A wreath was laid on behalf of the War Veterans by the Delegation Leader. It is well maintained and manned by a permanent ceremonial guard like the INDIA GATE memorial at New Delhi. Veterans who wished to visit the old battle locations were taken there to revive their old memory. I wish to make an observation about the spontaneous response of the Service Chief to the request projected by the veterans by agreeing to take us and our wives without showing any reservation. Our Veteran, Col Mohd Zikarya and his wife were permitted to fly in a service helicopter to visit Khulna sector where his old battalion, 8 Madras had fought the Pak Army in 1971, received by the GOC, taken around, looked after, requested to present the battle that was fought, and seen off at the helipad. Similarly the two 4 Para veterans Lt Gen Nirbhay Sharma, then Adjutant and Lt Col Surjit Singh, then 2/Lt and was decorated with VrC for his action, Visited Tangail. The Paratroopers were dropped in 1971 to facilitate the actions of the advancing forces. I too was offered to visit the ambush site at MS 10 on Road Dhaka - Jeydebpur. Presently, it is a sprawling housing colony as the township has extended up to that location and even beyond over the years. I explained the successful ambush that I had laid in the area and the prisoners captured and the damages to the enemy forces that gave me the Vir Chakra. The ladies had a separate programme of visits. They were taken to the SOS Village International, a private child welfare organization in Dhaka. It was established in 1972 in Dhaka and several other districts where the war had ravaged many homes. It pioneered a family approach to the long term care of orphaned and abandoned children. There are 15 family houses where 150 children live in close relationship with the SOS Mother, building family ties amongst the children. It was heartening to note that several children, who grew up in the SOS Villages, have taken up responsible jobs. Some of them have returned for doing the social work to establish more such villages. Later the ladies went for a second round of shopping spree. We called on the CNS Bangladesh Navy, Vice Admiral Zahir Uddin Ahmed (ND), ndc, psc, and his Staff officers at the Naval HQ. There was the customary exchange of greetings, presentation of mementos and welcome speech followed by a presentation by veteran Rear Admiral Subir Paul, IN regarding the Indian Navy’s role in the 1971 Ops in the Chittagong area and in the Bay of Bengal. The veterans were presented the Bangladesh Navy tie, as a token of remembrance of our visit. Our next visit was to the Air HQ of the Bangladesh Air Force, to call on Air Mshl Muhammad Enamul Bari, ndu, psc, Chief of Air Staff and his staff officers. One could feel the air of informality and their desire to hear from us about the 1971 operations. Our Veteran Air Cmde Narinder Chatrath, VrC, the oldest in the delegation (85 years) gave a lucid presentation in a story form as to how his “Hunter” Squadron based at Kalaikunda in West Bengal operated to fight the Pak Air force and gained air superiority. Everyone listened to his narration with rapt attention and awe. He gave some professional advice on flying and training methods and presented them with some air photographs taken during 1971 ops of the only airport at Tezgaon, which after bombardment by the IAF became unusable and is presently used as the national parade ground. The Air Chief profusely thanked the members of the delegation and presented us with bone china mugs and coasters with their crest and the BAF 2013 Calendar. Air Cmde Chatrath VrC was given the pride of place and had to pose for several photographs apart from the group photograph. The last port of call for the Veterans’ Delegation was to the Armed Forces Division of the Government of Bangladesh and call on their Principal Staff Officer, Lt Gen Abdul Wadud, ndu, psc. It is interesting to note that he holds a very responsible and powerful office. He reports directly to the Defence Minister. It