ANZAC Day Commemoration Service in Dhaka
From left: Bangladesh Government representative, Lt Col Munshi Mizanur Rahman; Ambassador for the Republic of Turkey, HE Mehmet Vakur Erkul, and the Honorary Consul of New Zealand, Mr Neaz Ahmed and Mr Tim Bolotnikoff, Acting High Commissioner of Australia placing wreaths at the ANZAC Day remembrance service.
On Wednesday 25 April 2012, the Australian High Commission in Dhaka commemorated the 97th anniversary of ANZAC Day, remembering Australian and New Zealand servicemen and women who died in wars and conflicts, including 29 buried at the Commonwealth War Cemeteries in Bangladesh.
Mr Tim Bolotnikoff, Acting High Commissioner of Australia, along with Bangladesh Government representative, Lt Col Munshi Mizanur Rahman; Ambassador for the Republic of Turkey, HE Mehmet Vakur Erkul, and the Honorary Consul of New Zealand, Mr Neaz Ahmed placed wreaths at the remembrance service.
Mr Bolotnikoff in his address recognised and thanked the many ordinary men and women who lost their lives serving Australia and New Zealand in wars, conflicts and peace operations, alongside their compatriots from Allied and Commonwealth Nations. The Ambassador for the Republic of Turkey read the Words of Remembrance.
The Commemorative Service highlighted the sacrifice of young Australians and New Zealanders who served with British Royal Air Force Squadrons in both the Burma and India/Ceylon theatres, including in and around Chittagong during the Second World War. A number of these airmen lost their lives while supporting the jungle fighters and now lie buried in the war cemeteries in Bangladesh.
The service was also attended by the Ambassador of the United States of America; High Commissioner of Sri Lanka, acting British High Commissioner, representatives of the Canadian, Indian and Pakistani High Commissions, Defence Attachés, Manager of Commonwealth War Graves in Bangladesh and Australian and New Zealand community members in Dhaka.
ANZAC Day is held on 25 April, to remember that on that day in 1915 troops from the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) landed in Gallipoli, Turkey, during the First World War. That was the first time Australian troops fought together as a nation and during the eight month campaign over 8,700 Australians were killed.
Australian High Commission, Dhaka
25 April 2012
For further information contact:
Nawrin Samrina
Senior Research and Communications Officer
Mob: 01711880205, E-mail: [email protected]