Vijay Diwas 2021: A Look Back At History As Bangladesh Celebrates 50 Years Of Independence | SEE PICS

50 years ago, Bangladesh attained independence as a sovereign nation on December 16, ending 23 years of rule by Pakistan. | In this image: Brig. Gen. R. Misra (C) is surrounded by East Bengalis as he leads first Indian troops into Dacca December 16th. Pakistan accepted India's offer of ceasefire and halted fighting on the western front ending a 14-day war that gave birth to a new nation-Bangla Desh-in the territory of East Pakistan. (Getty Images)

Indian soldiers rejoice 12/16 after entering the capital of East Pakistan. One soldier holds up a picture of Awami League chief Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who was arrested here last March. The war between India and Pakistan on the eastern front formally came to an end as Pakistani forces surrendered unconditionally. (Getty Images)

Residents of Dhaka, East Pakistan cheer as Indian troops enter the city after the surrender of Pakistani forces. This ended the eastern war between India and Pakistan, and led to the formation of the nation of Bangledesh. (Getty Images)

Pakistani POW’s are checked by Indian Army officers in a detention camp near Dacca, December 27th. Indian Army Chief of Staff General S.H.F.J. Mankeshaw said that Pakistani POW’s are being moved to India at the rate of 3,000 per day and that all 100,00 prisoners are expected to be transferred by mid-January 1972. The captives will be held in camps in Indian’s eastern state of Bihar, where Italian POW’s were held in WWII. (Getty Images)

Refugees in a makeshift camp at Bongaon, fleeing fighting on the border between India and Pakistan during the Bangladesh Liberation War, 26th June 1971. (Getty Images)

Indian troops repairing the Jessore Road from Kolkata in India to Jessore in Bangladesh, during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, part of the Bangladesh Liberation War, December 1971. The soldier in the foreground is using a Bren light machine gun. (Getty Images)

Indian troops advancing into the East Pakistan (Bangladesh) area during the Bangladesh War of Independence. (Getty Images)

Indian troops walk past one of their own tanks destroyed during battle for khulna, dec. 16th. Khulna was the last major battle fought on the eastern front. President Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan of Pakistan bowed, dec. 17th, to an ultimatum from Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi and agreed to her call for a ceasefire on the western front, thus apparently ending the third India-Pakistan war in 24 years. (Getty Images)

An elderly Pakistani helped by Indian troops advancing into the East Pakistan (Bangladesh) area during the Bangladesh War of Independence. (Getty Images)