The headquarters Bengal Area (HQ BA), one of the oldest static formations of the Indian Army in the eastern region, entered in its 122nd year on Tuesday.
Raised as the Bengal Command at Fort William on March 1, 1895, by Lt. Gen. Sir W.K. Ells, the Bengal Area saw a significant contribution to operations in World War II, the India-China conflict of 1962 and the India-Pakistan War of 1971.
Besides operational war time tasks, the formation also supports the logistics requirements of fighting formations and units of Eastern Command in war and peace.
On the occasion, Lt. Gen. Rajeev Tewari, general officer commanding, Bengal Area addressed the ranks of the formation at a special Sainik Sammelan.
The Raising Day celebration included a drawing competition for children, a blood donation camp and 'Barakhana' (feast) for families of all personnel posted at HQ Bengal Area.
The HQ also is the 'local military authority' acting as a link between the state government and the army besides being the custodian of the 'Maidan' area and all army land around Kolkata.
It also provides assistance to the state government in combating calamities, disasters in entire West Bengal and bordering districts of Bihar.