A joint contingent of the Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh Air Force took part in the Indian Republic Day parade for the first time on Tuesday.
The Republican Day parade was held to celebrate 50 years of India’s historic liberation.
Earlier, the Indian High Commission in Dhaka had invited the contingent on the occasion of the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the greatest Bengali of all time, and the golden jubilee of the independence of Bangladesh.
According to leading Indian newspaper, Times of India, the 122-member contingent of the Bangladesh Armed Forces comprising soldiers of the Bangladesh Army, sailors of the Bangladesh Navy, and air warriors of the Bangladesh Air Force was led by the contingent Commander Lieutenant Colonel Abu Mohammed Shahnoor Shawon and his deputies, Lieutenant Farhan Ishraq and Flight Lieutenant Sibat Rahman.
Inter-Service Public Relation Directorate said, the Bangladesh Armed Forces' parade contingent led by Lt Col Abu Md Shahnoor Shaon saluted the distinguished chief guest at the 72nd Republic Day parade of India which was held on the highway.
The joint contingent will return to Bangladesh on 30 January.
Everyone is hopeful that the contingent's participation in the parade will contribute to the development of mutual relations at all state levels, including the armed forces of Bangladesh and India.
All the three services of the Bangladesh Armed Forces had played a key role in securing independence for their country in the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971.
The representatives of the battalions that participated in the Liberation War, like 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10 and 11 East Bengal Regiment and 1, 2 and 3 Field Regiment Artillery, marched in the parade.
The contingent marched to the song of "Shono Ekti Mujibur-er theke lokkho Mujibur", meaning "Listen, the voice of Mujibur which has been multiplied by hundred thousands of his followers", played by the marching band led by Lieutenant Colonel Banazir Ahmed, said leading Indian news outlet Times of India.
India was the first country to recognise Bangladesh as an independent country and established diplomatic relations with the country immediately after its independence in December 1971.