Dhaka, Dec. 22 -- Air Vice Marshal (retd) A.K. Khandker, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Mukti Bahini, represented Bangladesh forces at the historic Pakistani Instrument of Surrender on December 16, 1971, at Dhaka's Ramna Race Course (now Suhrawardy Udyan).

He stood alongside Indian Lt. Gen. Jagjit Singh Aurora as Pakistan's Lt. Gen. A.A.K. Niazi signed the document, formally ending the Bangladesh Liberation War and leading to the surrender of 93,000 Pakistani troops-the largest since World War II.

Khandker's presence symbolized the Mukti Bahini's crucial contribution to victory, marking a glorious moment in Bangladesh's independence amid celebrations by crowds at the site.

This role, combined with his defection from the Pakistan Air Forc...