Bangladesh will honour 60 foreign friends and organisations from different countries for their outstanding contributions to the 1971 Liberation War.
The list includes former Indian president late Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed and ex-prime minister late Gulzarilal Nanda. The state accolades will be given in two categories, titled “Bangladesh Liberation War Honour” and “Friends of Liberation War Honour” at a reception at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre today.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will hand over medals, crests and citations to the awardees or their representatives.
Of the awardees 44 are from India, four each from Pakistan and USA, two each from UK and Japan, one each from Egypt, Sri Lanka and Turkey, and an international organisation.
This will be the seventh phase of honouring foreign friends since the government began giving awards on July 25, 2011. So far 278 people have been honoured.
Former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi was the first among foreign friends to be given the highest state honour — Bangladesh Freedom Honour — in recognition of her contribution to the War.
Her daughter-in-law Sonia Gandhi, now president of India’s ruling Congress party, received the award on her behalf from late president Zillur Rahman.
Officials said family members and relatives of the awardees have been invited to receive the awards on their behalf. If any recipient cannot travel to Dhaka, the award will be sent through the Bangladesh missions abroad.
The government is bearing all the expenses, including air travel and accommodation.
The prominent Indian awardees include former minister late VK Krishna Menon, Air Chief Marshal (retd) Swaroop Krishna, former chief of the army staff of Indian Army Lt General Tapishwar Narain Raina, Commander 20 Indian Mountain Division Major General (retd) Lachhman Singh Lehl, late ambassador Samar Sen, noted singer late Suchitra Mitra and film actress Waheeda Rahman.
The Pakistani recipients are noted politicians late Abdul Wali Khan, late Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan and late Master Khan Gul, and Prof Tariq Rahman.
Earlier on March 24, Bangladesh honoured 13 Pakistani friends for their contributions to the 1971 war.
Meanwhile, addressing a press briefing State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Capt (retd) AB Tajul Islam said yesterday the nation would honour its foreign friends for their contribution to the War.
On a question about awarding Pakistani nationals, he said they would be awarded as individuals, not as representatives of Pakistan.
-With The Daily Star input
