Indian Tri services contingent held practice sessions in France for the Bastille Day parade, which is scheduled to be held on July 14.  Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend this year's parade as the guest of honour at the invitation of France's President Emmanuel Macron.   Taking to Twitter, the Indian Air Force informed of the practice session being carried out by the IAF contingent, which will participate in France's National Day next week.  "The Warriors in Blue, All set to Sizzle on the Avenues des Champs Elysee. #BastilleDay #SwingIt,"  the Indian Air Force tweeted. An Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent of four Rafale fighter jets, and two C-17 Globemasters, which are slated to participate in the Bastille Day flypast over the Champs Elysees in Paris on July 14, landed at the Evreux-Fauville Air Base in France on Friday.  Officials said that the IAF flying contingent of 4 Rafale aircraft and 2 C-17 Globemasters were welcomed by the French Air and Space Force (FASF).  The officials also stated that the Rafales were refuelled by IAF's IL-78 tankers while flying to France, enabling the Rafales to finish the direct voyage from India to France.  India and France have a long history of cooperation, particularly in air power, as seen by the flypast and march of the IAF air warriors on Bastille Day.  "The flypast and marching by the IAF air warriors on Bastille Day follow a long association that the two nations share, especially in the field of air power," said an official statement by the Ministry of Defence. Source: The Times of India 

Three Indian Air Force Rafale fighter jets, as part of the military contingent, are poised to participate in the Bastille Day flypast over the Champs Elysees, Paris, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be the guest of honour, as per the release. The French traditional military parade is held in Paris during the Bastille Day on July 14. PM Modi's visit will coincide with the 25th anniversary of the "strategic partnership" between France and India. Earlier, Indian Defence Official also confirmed that the Indian Air Force would be deploying its fighter aircraft to participate in the event's flypast. The Indian military contingent would also be part of the marching contingent on Bastille Day. At the invitation of France President Emmanuel Macron, PM Modi will be the Guest of Honour on France's National Day on July 14. Earlier, Macron tweeted, "Dear Narendra, I am very happy to welcome you to Paris as a guest of honour at the July 14 parade." Prime Minister's visit is expected to herald the next phase in the India-France Strategic Partnership by setting new and ambitious goals for our strategic, cultural, scientific, academic, and economic cooperation, including in a wide range of industries, as per the official statement released by the Indian Embassy in France. India and France defend the goals and tenets of the United Nations Charter, which serve as the cornerstone of collaboration between the two nations in the Indo-Pacific region, and share a vision for peace and security, particularly in Europe and the Indo-Pacific. "This historic visit of PM Modi will also deliver common initiatives in order to respond to the key challenges of our time, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals and will be an opportunity for India and France to reaffirm their commitment to multilateralism, including in the context of India's G20 Presidency," the official statement added. India and France defend the goals and tenets of the United Nations Charter, which serve as the cornerstone of collaboration between the two nations in the Indo-Pacific region, and share a vision for peace and security, particularly in Europe and the Indo-Pacific.

Bangladesh today staged an extravagant Victory Day parade coinciding with the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of 1971 Independence from Pakistan with President M Abdul Hamid taking the salute while his Indian counterpart Ram Nath Kovind joining the ceremony along with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.   Military contingents from three foreign countries - India, Russia and Bhutan - joined the parade, the first ever participation of foreign troops in the Victory Day ceremony since Bangladesh's independence alongside Bangladesh forces.   The contingents of the three countries took part in the march-past while their own military music bands as their officers led the troops and saluted the Bangladesh president.    The United States and Mexico sent military observer groups which too took part in the parade at the National Parade Ground here.   President M Abdul Hamid, also supreme commander of the armed forces, took the salute at the ceremony from a saluting dais while Kovind, as the guest of honour, witnessed the event along with Sheikh Hasina. The parade was organized and conducted by the 9th Infantry Division of Bangladesh Army under the supervision of Armed Forces Division with the directives of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs.   President Hamid, accompanied by Major General Mohammad Shaheenul Haque, the parade commander and also General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 9th Infantry Division and Area Commander of Savar Area, riding an open jeep inspected the parade and took the salute.   Twenty three contingents of Bangladesh's army, navy, air force and different other paramilitary units as well as non-military and utility services and ministries joined the parade.   The armed forces also displayed their defence hardware and weaponries in the ceremony at the National Parade Square alongside the march-past and the air-past, when the fighter jets and helicopters displayed their manoeuvring performances in the air.   Army chief General S M Shafiuddin Ahmed, navy chief Admiral M Shaheen Iqbal and air force chief Marshal Shaikh Abdul Hannan accompanied President Hamid during the ceremony while he inspected the parade and then took the salutes of participating units.   President Abdul Hamid, accompanied by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also exchanged greetings with the commanders of the contingents who took part in the parade before departing from the ground. The parade ground was decorated with the images of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, four national leaders and seven Birshreshthas.   Apart from this, the nearby road of the parade ground was also decorated with banners and festoons highlighting the spirit of the Liberation War and the Victory Day.   The invited guests also witnessed armoury acquisitions of different regiments and contingents of the armed forces, a spectacular fly-past conducted by army aviation, helicopters of anti-crime elite force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), navy aviation, parachute landing by army paratroopers and the air force of Bangladesh and India.   Later, a well-decorated motorcade of mechanized column of different ministries and departments of the government also ensured their presence on the parade ground.   At last stage of the programme, a spectacular aerobatic display was exhibited on the occasion.   Kovind is the lone foreign head of state to join the celebrations while Dhaka rolled out a red carpet as he arrived on Wednesday on a three-day visit along with his wife and daughter with a delegation.   Bangladesh invited him to the celebration as New Delhi extended its crucial support during the 1971 Liberation War while on this day in 1971 the defeated Pakistani troops unconditionally surrendered to Bangladesh-India allied force.   India was the second country to recognize Bangladesh after Bhutan while on December 16 evening, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi announced the development in Indian parliament saying "Dhaka is now the free capital of a free country".   Bangladesh this year simultaneously celebrates the 50th year of Dhaka-New Delhi diplomatic ties.    Thousands of people from all walks of life also witnessed the spectacular parade that lasted for over two hours.   Earlier, on his arrival along with his wife Rashida Khanam at the parade venue at about 10:30 am, Abdul Hamid was received by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque, parliament members and the chiefs of the three services and senior officers of armed forces division.   Younger daughter of the Father of the Nation Sheikh Rehana, Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, cabinet members, political leaders, lawmakers, foreign diplomats, several Indian freedom fighters, senior civil and military officers were present on the occasion.   Fifty years back, the country achieved victory through the nine-month War of Liberation against Pakistani occupation forces on this day.   On this day in 1971, Pakistani military conceded defeat to the allied forces and commanding officer of Pakistani forces general A A K Niazi surrendered arms with all members of his forces. Source: BSS AH

A contingent of 122 proud soldiers of the Bangladesh Armed Forces, recently departed for India in a specially sent IAF C-17 aircraft.  The contingent will participate in India’s Republic Day Parade in New Delhi on 26 January 2021. This is only the third time in India’s history that any foreign military contingent has been invited to participate in this National Parade at Rajpath in Central Delhi.  It is especially significant as the year 2021 marks 50 years of the Liberation War, through which Bangladesh emerged as a vibrant nation, free from the yoke of tyranny and oppression. The Forces which fought and bled together 50 years ago, will now proudly march down the Rajpath.The Bangladesh contingent will carry forward the legacy of the brave Muktijoddhas, who fought for freedom, justice and their people. The Bangladesh Armed Forces contingent comprises Soldiers of the Bangladesh Army, Sailors of the Bangladesh Navy and Air Warriors of the Bangladesh Air Force.  A majority of the soldiers in Bangladesh contingent come from the most distinguished units of the Bangladesh Army, comprising of 1,2,3,4,8,9,10 & 11 East Bengal Regiments and 1,2 and 3 Field Artillery Regiments, who have the distinct honour of fighting and winning the 1971 Liberation War. The Parade will be broadcast live, worldwide, on January 26, 2021. Source: Indian High Commission press release. AH

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said to the Bangladesh Air Force commissioned officers, ‘The basic training you have achieved from the Air Force Academy, always try to apply those in your professional life. Perform the duties given up to you with honesty, concentration and devotion. Build yourselves in such a way so that you can play proper role to fulfill the desire of the country and the nation. You all are the associates of performing the great responsibility to protect the country.’ The Prime Minister said these while participating in the President parade 2017 in Bangladesh Air Force Academy in Jessore on Sunday. The Prime Minister said, ‘We want to go forward with the policy adopted by Bangabandhu- Friendship to all and hostility to none. Bangladesh Air Force is playing pioneer role in countering natural calamities in the country and abroad, rescue operation and relief materials distribution. The significant contribution of Air Force in United Nations peace keeping missions has brightened up the image of the country. Be determined by being respectful to the constitution and inspired for the love to the country, to implement the strong promise of keeping the air of Bangla free. Always try to achieve the efficiency to match with the expanding technological development and changes.’ Sheikh Hasina said, ‘Today’s concluding training parade successfully ended. Heartiest greetings to everybody. I also pay my greetings to the commissioned officers and their guardians.’ While speaking she also wished for success of the new officers. She also said, ‘We are giving our effort to modernize training facilities of the academy and for setting up new establishment to meet the demand of future. If these development activities were done then not only in the country rather in the international arena Bangladesh Air Force Academy will be able to bring reputation.’ The Prime Minister mentioned that setting up of two new air bases- one in Barisal and another in Sylhet are under process. She said, ‘I believe with these activities Air Force will be stronger and its capability will increase.’ AH