ANZAC Day Commemoration Service in Dhaka

ANZAC Day Commemoration Service in Dhaka

On Sunday 25 April, the Australian High Commission in Dhaka held a commemoration service for the 95th 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 Air Commodore Anisur Rahman awc, psc from DGFI, the Charge d’Affaires of Turkey Gonenc Agacikoglu, and the Honorary Consul of New Zealand Mr Neaz Ahmed placed wreaths at the service in their remembrance.

The 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 now lie buried in the Chittagong and Comilla war cemeteries.

Dr Lee in his address also took the opportunity to acknowledge the continued important role of peace-keepers from all nations, especially from the Bangladesh armed forces and police. The Turkish Charge d’Affaires read the Words of Remembrance first made by Mostafa Kemal Ataturk.

The service was also attended by the US Ambassador, Canadian High Commissioner, British High Commissioner, 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 2010
For further information contact:
Senior Research and Communications Officer, AHC, Dhaka.
Tel: 8813105, E-mail: [email protected]