From Our Special Correspondent
New Delhi: In a rare event Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma and Leader of the Opposition Conrad K Sangma received the ‘Friends of Liberation War Honour’ on behalf of their mother and father respectively from none less than Bangladesh President Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre at Dhaka.
While honouring the dignitaries, both Rahman and Hasina expressed deep debt of gratitude for their wholehearted support to its liberation in 1971. The state accolades, titled ‘Bangladesh Liberation War Honour’ and ‘Friends of Liberation War Honour’, were presented to 75 individuals, six organisations, Mitra Bahini (allied forces) and the people of India.
Recalling the recipients’ contributions to their independence, the Bangladesh President said, “Their valuable inspiration and support gave us impetus for achieving victory.” Hasina said, “They gave us all sorts of help available — food, shelter, medicine, and even military training.”
In the ceremony held on Tuesday, besides Dr Mukul and Conrad, eight heads of state and government were awarded the ‘Bangladesh Liberation War Honour’.
Of the eight, only Nepalese President Ram Baran Yadav is alive. The award consists of a gold-plated silver metallic plaque bearing a replica of the National Memorial and a citation on a silk cloth.
While Dr Mukul received the award on behalf his late mother Rawshan Ara Begum Sangma, Conrad took the award on behalf of his father Purno A Sangma.
Purno had contributed by providing shelter in relief camps and liaising with others for logistical support. Dr Mukul’s mother had provided food and shelter to the freedom fighters during the liberation war.
Others from the North Eastern region, who were honoured includes late composer and singer Dr Bhupen Hazarika, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, former Tripura Chief Minister Sachindra Lal Singh and Biva Kumari Devi (also of Tripura).
Pankaj Saran, the Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka, received the ‘Friends of Liberation War Honour’ award on behalf of the people of India, while Union Minister of State for Defence MM Pallam Raju took the award as a Mitra Bahini representative.
This was the second phase of presenting awards to foreign nationals and organisations. Earlier on July 25 last year, the ‘Bangladesh Freedom Honour’ was posthumously conferred on former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi which was received by Sonia Gandhi.
