What are the most important events of Dec. 16, 1971?

The most significant event of December 16, 1971, was the liberation of Bangladesh. On this day, the Instrument of Surrender was signed at the Ramna Race Course in Dacca (now Dhaka) by Lieutenant-General A.A.K. Niazi of the Pakistan Eastern Command and Lieutenant-General Jagjit Singh Aurora of the Indian Eastern Command [c1][t3]. This act marked the formal end of the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War and the birth of Bangladesh as an independent nation [c2][t7]. While hostilities between India and Pakistan had officially commenced earlier on December 3, 1971 [t1][t5], and India had accorded diplomatic recognition to Bangladesh on December 6, 1971, the surrender on December 16 finalized the territorial liberation [c1][t6]. Consequently, December 16 is celebrated annually as 'Victory Day' (Bijoy Dibos) in Bangladesh to commemorate the defeat of Pakistani forces and the achievement of national independence [t3][t4].

Sources

1. [1] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > The Indo-Pak War of 1971 and the Birth of Bangladesh > p. 696
2. [2] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > The Indo-Pak War of 1971 and the Birth of Bangladesh > p. 692
3. [3] https://ndcjournal.ndc.gov.bd/ndcj/index.php/ndcj/article/download/412/327/1710
4. [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victory_Day_(Bangladesh)
5. [6] https://www.britannica.com/event/1971-India-Pakistan-War