Samayer Prayojane, a non-governmental organisation, on Wednesday observed Bangladesh Air Force Day for the first time in the country.
The organisation, in observance of the day, held a commemorative discussion in the capital at the Bangladesh University of Textiles with its vice chancellor in the chair.
Planning minister AK Khandaker, also a retired air vice-marshal and deputy commander in chief of the independence war, sub-sector commander of 1971 war M Harun-ur-Rashid, retired lieutenant colonel Nurunnabi Khan, and Kilo Flight member and retired captain Shahab Uddin Ahmed, among others, took part in the discussion.
The speakers recalled the history of the independence war and the sacrifices made by the Bengali, many of whom laid down their life for the liberation of their motherland from the Pakistani occupation forces.
A symbolic flight codenamed Kilo Flight was flown near the end of the war to establish the Bangladesh Air Force. Initially, Kilo Flight consisted of three aircraft provided by India.
The Bangladesh Air Force was formed at Dimapur in Nagaland of India on September 28, 1971. At that time, the embryo of Bangladesh Air Force was formed as ‘Kilo Flight’ to assist the freedom fighters.
