Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, along with the three service chiefs, paid floral tributes at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at the historic India Gate in Delhi and witnessed an impressive cultural programme and tri-service band display in honour of the brave soldiers who laid their lives.

Later, the memorial was opened for the public for the first time to pay floral tributes to those soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice during the 1971 war.

Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said a permanent war memorial would be built in the national capital soon.

He told reporters that the government decided to celebrate 'Bijoy Dibas' as the nation wanted to remember the supreme sacrifices made by the armed forces. "The nation cannot forget its brave soldiers," he said.

This is for the first time in four years that the Indian government celebrated the day in such a big manner.

On December 14, Mukherjee celebrated the occasion with the Indian army in Kolkata and later told reporters that all contentious issues between India and Bangladesh would be sorted out through dialogue.

He hoped that friendship between the two countries would remain despite occasional strains in bilateral ties.

Asked if relations between India and Bangladesh were worsening due to the rise of fundamentalist forces in Bangladesh, Mukherjee said, "There are some problems which may take some time to be sorted out."

For the first time, 61 Bangladeshi freedom fighters including Maj Gen (retd.) K M Shafiullah, Bir Uttam, former army chief Gen (retd.) Mustafizur Rahman and Maj Gen (retd) CR Dutta, took part in the celebrations of Bijoy Dibas in Kolkata.

Speaking on the occasion, Shafiullah said, "We want the days of bonhomie between India and Bangladesh to return. We cannot forget the support of Indian troops and late prime minister Indira Gandhi."

He said occasional hitches in Indo-Bangladesh ties "pained" them and the "old bond" between the two countries should be restored for the benefit of their people.

Gen (retd.) Mustafizur Rahman said the celebrations were a moment of pride for both the countries and "we hope our relationship will only get stronger in future."

Maj Gen (retd.) CR Dutta said people of India and Bangladesh would forever be indebted to leaders like Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Indira Gandhi and former Indian army general Jagjit Singh Aurora for the liberation of Bangladesh.