Exercise Shantir Ogroshena 2021

The Shantir Ogroshena Exercise was held to honour the birth centennial of Bangladesh’s founding father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The drill was also held to commemorate the nation’s golden jubilee of independence. From April 4th to April 12th, 2021, this was organised by the Bangabandhu Senanibas in Bangladesh. The matter is relevant since 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of India-Bangladesh diplomatic ties. The exercise’s major goal was to strengthen defence relations with neighbouring nations. It was intended to develop and strengthen connectivity across the countries to help peacekeeping. The United Nations Organization established this exercise.

About the Exercise Shantir Ogroshena

• Along with a contingent from the Royal Bhutan Army, the Sri Lankan Army, and even the Bangladesh Army, the Indian Army is participating in this international exercise.
• The Indian contingent will comprise 30 people, comprising officers, JCOs, or jawans from DOGRA Regiment’s Battalion.
• Military observers from the United States, the United Kingdom, Kuwait, and even Singapore joined the exercise.

What was the Aim of the Exercise?

The exercise Shantir Ogroshena aims to improve interoperability and reinforce protocols among neighbouring countries to ensure stable peace operations in the region. All the participating nations’ forces can share their important experience to develop their peacekeeping exercises or processes. 

About Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the founder leader of Bangladesh and a Bengali political leader in East Pakistan. He led the Awami League, which served as Bangladesh’s first Prime Minister or President. He is known as Sheikh Mujib because he holds the honorific position of Bangabandhu (Friend of Bengal). Sheikh Hasina Wajed, their eldest daughter, has been the current leader of the Awami League and then a former prime minister of Bangladesh. Mujib, a charismatic and forceful orator, ascended through the ranks of East Pakistani politics and also the Awami League as a student political leader. Mujib, a socialist, rose to prominence as a pioneer in the fight against ethnic and institutional discrimination toward Bengalis. He advocated more provincial autonomy and became a vocal critic of Ayub Khan’s military government.

Mujib announced a 6-point autonomy plan, which has been perceived as secession in West Pakistan,  as sectional tensions rose. In 1968, he was tried for supposedly colluding only with the Indian government, and he was found not guilty. Mujib wasn’t invited to form the government that currently leads his party to a large win throughout the 1970 elections. Mujib was detained after talks with President Yahya Khan, West Pakistani politician Zulfikar Ali Bhutto went down, and then a guerrilla war involving government forces and Bengali nationalists ensued. In 1971, India intervened, leading to the formation of Bangladesh, with Mujib assuming office as provisional president, then prime minister, after his release. Mujib battled to handle the difficulties of extreme unemployment and poverty as a constitution was established professing socialism or secular democracy. In 1975, he banned other political parties or proclaimed himself “president for life” amid escalating political upheaval. A group of army officers executed Mujib and his family. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the nation’s father, celebrated his 100th birthday on March 17th, 2020. In 2020, he was also given the Gandhi Peace Prize by the Indian government. The notion of the “Shantir Ogroshena Exercise ” is one of UPSC’s most crucial matters because it regularly conducts sporting matches for the military or navy.

Military Exercises

In 2021, India and Bangladesh will commemorate 50 years of diplomatic relations. There have been several military exercises between the two countries in the past. SAMPRIT is a great illustration of this. On April 12th, 2021, Shantir Ogroshena, a ten-day international naval exercise held in Bangladesh, came to a close. The diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh will celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2021. Two countries participate in cooperative military drills. Each year, they participate in CORPAT drills. In October 2020, the BONOSAGAR Naval Exercise was held between the two nations. On April 12th, 2021, Shantir Ogroshena, a 10-day multinational military exercise, came close.

Conclusion

Shantir Ogroshena 2021 (Front Runner of Peace) is just a multinational military exercise that began on April 4th, 2021, at Bangabandhu Senanibas, Bangladesh, to memorialise the birth centennial of Bangladesh’s ‘Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and also to check the country’s glorious 50 years of independence. From April 4th to April 12th, 2021, a contingent of 30 Indian Army personnel will participate with contingents from the Royal Bhutan Army, Sri Lankan Army, and Bangladesh Army. Military observers from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Turkey will be present throughout the exercise. The exercise aims to promote cooperation and strengthen procedures among adjacent countries to ensure that regional peacekeeping activities remain stable.