Four decades after Bangladesh came into being as an
Independent Nation, the country formally recognized the role played by the
Indian Armed Forces during the Bangladesh 1971 Liberation War. At a glittering
function in capital Dhaka Bangladesh President Mohd. Zillur
Rahman, in the presence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, conferred an award
on the Indian Defence Minister on behalf of the Indian Armed Forces.
The award was received by the Minister of State for
Defence Dr. MM Pallam Raju during at the Bangabandhu
International Conference Center. The award consists of a gold-plated silver
metallic plaque bearing a replica of the National Mausoleum and a citation on a
silk cloth. It is a formal recognition by the Government of Bangladesh of the
supreme sacrifice made by about 1,400 Indian Armed Forces personnel during
Bangladesh’s nine-month long Liberation War.
The award was recommended by a National Committee
constituted by the Government of Bangladesh under Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu
Moni and consisting of State Minister for Liberation War Affairs M. Tajul Islam
to honour the foreign friends who had assisted Bangladesh in its Liberation
War.
Indian and Bangladesh Forces were put under a Joint Command
structure, led by Lt. General Jagjit Singh Aurora, and this force came to be
known as the ‘Mitra Bahini’, says the Committee’s note, adding that this
alliance of the Indian Army and Bangladesh Forces engaged the Pakistani Forces
in December, 1971 and was instrumental in the defeat of the Pakistan Army which
surrendered on December 16, 1971, a few days after the formal declaration of
War.
Pallam Raju, who is on two-day visit to Dhaka, also
represented India at the Bangladesh Independence and National Day celebrations
in the capital today. It was on this day in 1971 the Bangladesh’ Father of the
Nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared Independence.
The Government of Bangladesh is conferring awards on 110
foreign nationals and organizations tomorrow for their contribution to the
country’s Liberation War, including Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar.
In the first phase Sonia Gandhi received the Bangladesh Freedom Honour
awarded to former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi at a function in Dhaka on
July 25 last year.
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