ANZAC Day Commemoration Service in Dhaka
On Monday 25 April 2011, the Australian High Commission in Dhaka commemorated the 96th 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.
Tim Bolotnikoff, Charge d’Affaires, Australian High Commission, along with Bangladesh Government representative, Air Commodore Anisur Rahman, Charge d’Affaires of the Turkish Embassy, Mr Gonenc Agacikoglu, 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 Charge d’Affaires of the Republic of Turkey read the Words of Remembrance.
The Commemorative Service highlighted the sacrifice of young servicemen from the Royal Australian Air Force and the Royal New Zealand Air Force 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 Chittagong and Comilla war cemeteries.
The service was also attended by the British, Canadian and Sri Lankan High Commissioners, Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States Embassy, 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
26 April 2011
For further information contact:
Research and Communications Officer, AHC, Dhaka.
Mob: 01713 048599, E-mail: [email protected]