ANZAC Day Commemoration Service in Dhaka
On Saturday 25 April, the Australian High Commission in Dhaka commemorated the 94th anniversary of ANZAC Day remembering Australian and New Zealand servicemen and women who died in wars and conflicts, including 29 buried in Commonwealth War Cemeteries in Bangladesh.
Australian High Commissioner, Dr Justin Lee, along with representatives from the Bangladesh Government Major General Mollah Fazle Akbar, the Turkish Ambassador HE Mr Sakir Ozkan Torunlar, and the Honorary Consul of New Zealand Mr Neaz Ahmed placed wreaths at the service in their remembrance.
Dr Lee in his address recognized 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 Turkish Ambassador read the Words of Remembrance first made by Mostafa Kemal Ataturk.
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 US Ambassador, Canadian High Commissioner, UK Charge d’Affaires, 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. This 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 2009
For further information contact:
Senior Political & Economic Research Officer, AHC, Dhaka.
Tel: 8813105, E-mail: [email protected]