Two Indian Naval ships reached the historic port town of Mongla, Bangladesh on Monday to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. The ships will also take part in the ongoing “Swarnim Vijay Varsh” to strengthen the historic Indo-Bangladeshi friendship  This is the first time, after the 1971 wars when Indian ships had gone there to target Pakistani installations,  when Indian warships reached Bangladesh. 

According to a report in The Dhaka Tribune, the ships Sumedha, and Kulish, both indigenously built guided missile corvette will be paying homage to the Bangladeshi and Indian combatants and citizens, who laid down their lives during Bangladesh’s War of Liberation in 1971.

The visit will boost the strong and flourishing ties between Indian and Bangladesh Navies, said the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, was quoted as saying by UNB.

During the visit, the Senior Officers from the Indian side will be paying homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by laying wreaths at his mausoleum at Tungipara.

They will also lay wreaths at the grave of Bir Shrestha Ruhul Amin who sacrificed his life while fighting on-board the gunboat Palash at Mongla on Dec 10, 1971.

Both navies will also have friendly sports fixtures and visits to each other’s ships.