By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Dr Bidhu Bhushan Dutta, former Rajya Sabha MP from Shillong; Captain Williamson A Sangma (posthumous), former Meghalaya Chief Minister; Anjali Lahiri, former CPM Activist and Social Worker; Ahmed Hossain, Photographer and Social Worker; Afzal Hossain, former Theater Baron and Social Worker are among the famous personalities from Meghalaya among other Indian and foreign nationals who were conferred with the prestigious “Friends of Liberation War Honour” by Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh on October 20 at a grand function organized to honor Bangladesh Liberation War heroes at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre, Dacca.
The Friends of Liberation War Honour was awarded to 61 honourees as expression of the respect and gratitude of the Bengali nation for their unique contribution to the War of Liberation of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. Dr Dutta was conferred the award for his role of providing relief work during the liberation war.
A former professor and social worker, during the liberation war, Dr Dutta, then a young professor carried out relief work along with his students in Dawki and Balat refugee camps in the bordering areas. He along with his team arranged for transfer and treatment of injured freedom fighters and the sick refugees to Nazareth Hospital and Civil Hospital, Shillong.
He and his team arranged for a photograph exhibition in the State Central Library Auditorium, Shillong titled “Bangladesh: Agony and Awakening” in 1971 which were later printed in book form and 6000 copies were sold. The money collected was utilized to buy food and medicine for the refugees.
Captain Sangma, during the liberation war extended all assistance to the freedom fighters and refugees in the bordering areas.
He on behalf of the people of Meghalaya repeatedly impressed upon the Indian government to recognize Bangladesh. Lahiri played a crucial role of collecting funds and arranged distribution of relief in refugee camps. She was frequently seen in refugee camps in Cherrarpunjee and other border areas. She used to distribute relief materials in the training and operational camps of freedom fighters on Basthala, Tamabil, Mailam etc. and freedom fighters used to address her as “Jagat Maa” (Universal Mother).
Ahmed Hossain also conducted relief work in refugee camps at Dawki, Balat and Pamchutia with his own fund. He played a leading role as member of Bangladesh Assistance Camp (BAC) formed in Shillong. He was the Motawalli of the Mawprem graveyard donated by his forefather Goloam Haider Mollah where he buried 52 Shaheed freedom fighters and is still maintaining their graves.
His brother Afzal repeated the relief work in refugee camps of Dawki, Balat and Pamchutia with his own fund besides playing a leading role in BAC. As a chairperson of the Dead Body Burial Committee of Shillong he buried Shaheed freedom fighters and refugees at his own cost and is maintaining these graves at Mawprem graveyard.