Bangladesh wants remains of 1971 war hero buried in India Bangladesh authorities have asked officials to make arrangements to bring back the remains of one of the country's top war heroes, Hamidur Rahman, from India, where he was buried after the 1971 Liberation War. The Parliamentary Committee on Liberation War Affairs Ministry gave the orders just weeks after the remains of another war hero, 'Bir Shreshtho' Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman, was brought back from Pakistan after 35 years. "The remains of Hamidur Rahman should be brought home too within the shortest possible time, and we have asked the Ministry to take measures in this regard," Salauddin Ahmed, the Committee Chairman, told the daily. Hamidur Rahman was killed in a combat with the Pakistani Amy in the bordering Ambassa area of Tripura on October 28, 1971 and was buried there. Bir Shrestho, the highest gallantry award in Bangladesh, has been conferred on seven war heroes. All of them, except Rahman, are buried in the country. Bangladesh, formerly East Pakistan, became independent in 1971 after a nine-month bloody war. zeenews.com 14 Jul 06

Govt decides to bury Matiur's remains in Dhaka Cant In total disregard to Birshreshtha Matiur Rahman's family members' plea for burying the mortal remains of the gallant war hero at a public place the government yesterday decided to bury the remains on the Air Force Headquarters premises in Dhaka Cantonment. An inter-ministerial meeting at the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs took the decision of flying in the mortal remains of Matiur from Pakistan soon and bury near the Air Force HQ Mosque. Earlier at a press conference in the city on April 8, family members of the national hero hoped the remains of Matiur would be received with due state honour and buried at a place where the nation could pay tribute. Daughter of Matiur Rahman, one of the seven highest gallantry award winners of Bangladesh, Tuhin Matiur Haider, is scheduled to come to Bangladesh from South Carolina, United States tomorrow morning to spearhead public demand for burring her father's remains at an open public place instead of a restricted area. thedailystar.net 18 Apr 06

Armed Forces Day observed On this day in 1971, Bangladesh Armed Forces comprising army, navy and air force came into existence and launched an all-out attack on Pakistan occupation force, expediting the country's freedom. The president hosted a reception at the Armed Forces Division and met families of the Bir Shresthas and other gallantry-award-winning freedom fighters. He presented gifts to 43 gallantry-award-winning freedom fighters and family members, including close relatives of Shaheed Captain Mohiuddin Jahangir (Bir Shrestha), Shaheed Sipoy Hamidur Rahman (Bir Shrestha), Shaheed Sipoy Muhammad Mustafa Kamal (Bir Shrestha), Sipoy Shaheed Muhammad Ruhul Amin ERA-1 (Bir Shrestha), Shaheed Flight Lieutenant M Matiur Rahman (Bir Shrestha), Shaheed Lance Naik Nur Muhammad Sheikh (Bir Shrestha) and Shaheed Lance Naik Munshi Abdur Rauf (Bir Shrestha). thedailystar.net 22 Nov 07

BD to honour Mujib, Zia Bangladesh is to present posthumous awards to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founder of Bangladesh, and Ziaur Rahman, former president and Mukti Bahini commander, in recognition of their contributions to the independence of the country, gained in 1971. Both were assassinated while they were heads of state in separate military putsches in 1975 and 1981. They will be given the Independence Award, the highest national award, which consists of a gold medal, Taka 50,000 ($834) and a citation. Daily Times, Pakistan - 20 Feb 2003

Bangladeshi UNMIL Troops Decorated with UN Medals The Head of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), Ambassador Jacques Paul Klein has awarded UN service medals to the Bangladeshi contingent following a year of dedicated service in Liberia. Ambassador Klein said "Bangladesh, although a relatively new country, enjoys the distinction of contributing the largest number of peacekeepers to the United Nations," a tradition that began in 1988 with the deployment of 31 Military Observers to UNIMOG on the border of Iran and Iraq. Bangladeshi troops have the double honor of being the largest troop-contributing nation both in Liberia and in the world, with 3,200 in Liberia and approximately 8,209 world-wide. The Contingent Commander of the Bangladeshi troops serving in UNMIL, B/Gen. Mollah Fazle Akbar, pledged his country's commitment to the attainment of global peace as long as the country remains a member of the United Nations. allafrica.com 8 Dec 04

Bangladeshi Contingent Decorated With UN Medals The Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG), Mr. Alan Doss awarded UN peacekeeping medals to Bangladeshi peacekeepers deployed in the country during a colorful ceremony at the contingent's headquarters in Gbarnga, Bong County. With 3,184 peacekeepers serving in Liberia and over 9,457 peacekeepers serving in United Nations missions across the globe, "Bangladesh has the double honor of being the largest troop contributing country both in the world and in Liberia," Mr. Doss said. The Commander of the Bangladeshi contingent, Brig, Gen. Khondokar Kamaluzzaman said 'Today is a great day of immense joy for all the members of Sector III. We will always remember on this day that we were awarded United Nations Medals in recognition of our service in Liberia." The Bangladeshi peacekeepers were first deployed in Liberia in October 2003. Since 1988, Bangladeshi has contributed troops to 28 UN peacekeeping operations worldwide. allafrica.com 14 Dec 05

Mukti Joddhas hail Indian sacrifice Bangladesh’s first chief of army staff, Major General K M Safiullah, fears that the very enemy that the Mukti Joddhas (freedom fighters) defeated in the 1971 Liberation War are back, and in control. "The defeated force (Pakistan) has re-organised and is exacting revenge. The administration is already in its grip. They are bent on distorting history and fanning anti-India sentiment. This is an extremely unfortunate development because Bangladesh would not have achieved independence without India’s help,"an anguished Saifullah said. A sector commander in the Liberation War, Saifullah is a Bir Uttam awardee, Bangladesh’s second-highest gallantry award. timesofindia.inditimes.com 15 Dec 05