On April 17, 1971, the then Deputy High Commissioner Hossain Ali hoisted the Bangladesh flag by lowering the Pakistani one at the Deputy High Commission in Calcutta (now Kolkata), West Bengal, India.

To commemorate that day, the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata yesterday celebrated 'First national flag hoisting day abroad'.

Deputy High Commissioner Andalib Elias hoisted the national flag of Bangladesh at the Kolkata mission yesterday morning.

Earlier, officials took the national flag of Bangladesh and walked around the mission. Md Bashiruddin, Councilor of the Deputy High Commission; Councilor Reazul Islam (Education and Sports), Mohammad Shamsul Arif, First Secretary (Commerce); and Ranjan Sen, First Secretary (Press), held the four corners of the flag. They were accompanied by Andalib Elias, Head of Chancery Shamima Yasmeen Smriti and other mission staff.

After hoisting the flag, the Deputy High Commissioner said, "On that day, this mission was the first to leave Pakistan's side and express loyalty to the government of Bangladesh. We are proud to hoist the national flag today to commemorate that day."