A Bangladesh academic has said that had it not been for the Indian Army's timely intervention, the 1971 Liberation War with Pakistan would have dragged on for far much longer than it actually did.
University of Dhaka professor, author and historian Dr. Muntasir Mamun, said, "If India would not have stood with us, the War for Liberation would have stretched for a longer period of time. Many more people would have been killed."
"We would have won, once the struggle had started, we would have definitely won, but it would have stretched over a long period of time like that of Vietnam, where it took nearly half a century," he added.
India's entry into the Liberation War is said to have taken place because of "Operation Chengiz Khan", when Pakistan launched pre-emptive air strikes on eleven Indian Air Force bases on December 3, 1971.
India immediately commenced hostilities with West Pakistan. The ware lasted thirteen days, and is considered to be one of the shortest wars in history.
During the war, Indian and Pakistan troops clashed on the eastern and western fronts. The war came to an end after the Eastern Commander of the Pakistan Army, Lt. Gen. Niazi, signed the Instrument of Surrender on December 16, 1971 in Dhaka in the presence of his Indian counterpart Lt. Gen J.S. Arora, marking the liberation and creation of the new nation of Bangladesh.
About 93,000 Pakistan soldiers were taken prisoners of war by the Indian Army. It is estimated that between 300,000 and 3,000,000 civilians were killed during the war and a further eight to ten million people fled to India to seek refuge.
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Even after 43 years, a majority of Bangladeshis praise the support given by India during the war of 1971
Residents in Dhaka recognize India's contribution with poise and dignity.
This year, a seminar with the theme "Indo-Bangladesh Relations and Regional Security" was held over the weekend.
Many of the participants expressed their gratitude to India for its help during the war.
The delegates also said that both countries can take a joint initiative towards fighting militancy in the region.
India's Deputy High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Sandip Chatterjee, said, "I feel that if we can stick to this friendship, both countries can together fight terrorism in the region and take a step at a global level. If that happens, it will be a very important step for security in this region."
Late on Friday, India arrested a key suspect believed to been involved in a plot to assassinate Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and to stage a coup there.
Shahnor Alom, who was picked up from a village in Assam, is being interrogated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
According to reports, Alom is an operative of the banned terror outfit Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), and was also behind a blast in West Bengal.
Indian security officials had uncovered a plot against Prime Minister Hasina in October after two members of JMB were killed in an explosion while building homemade bombs in Burdwan District.
The JMB, which was also behind the 2005 serial blasts in Bangladesh, has been banned in both countries.