First Army formation to reach Dhaka during 1971 Bangladesh war celebrates 60 years 

The first Army formation marked 60 years of the war, paying tributes to the troopers on the (*60*) War Memorial. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The first Army formation to reach Dhaka, previously Dacca, during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War celebrated 60 years of service to the nation on April 24. 

The HQ 101 Area was raised on the outskirts of Meghalaya’s capital (*60*) in 1963 because the 101 Communication Zone quickly after the Chinese aggression. It went past its function of offering logistic help to all formations and models within the northeast to participate in lively fight. 

Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The Area undertook counter-insurgency operations in Mizoram from 1966-69. During the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, it took half in operations within the Sylhet and Mymensingh districts of present-day Bangladesh, then East Pakistan. 

It was the primary formation to reach Dhaka on the morning of December 16, 1971, main to the give up by Pakistan that afternoon, incomes it the identify “First in Dacca”. 

“Over time, HQ 101 Area has evolved to provide logistic support in remote and challenging terrain in border areas across the northeast. It has contributed immensely in nation-building by aiding infrastructure development, providing humanitarian aid and ensuring outreach to remote villages,” a defence assertion stated. 

The celebration on Monday commenced with a solemn ceremony to pay tributes to the troopers on the (*60*) War Memorial by the Army’s Eastern Commander, Lt Gen Rana Pratap Kalita. Major General R.Ok. Jha, the officiating General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 101 Area and all troopers additionally paid tributes. 

Lt Gen Kalita praised the troopers for carrying ahead the legacy of devoted service. He flagged in a bike rally organised by the HQ 101 Area. The rally, flagged off on April 9 by Meghalaya Governor Phagu Chauhan, traversed by way of Meghalaya, Assam, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh in celebration of the “spirit of patriotism”. 

As part of the celebration, a particular cowl and stamp have been launched and the busts of Maj. Gen. Gurbaksh Singh Gill and Maj. Gen. Gandharv Nagra have been unveiled on Monday. The two, who have been the GOCs of 101 Area, had helped curate the victory within the 1971 war, Army officers stated.