Former Prime Minister I K Gujral, late Defence Minister Jagjivan Ram and Colonel (Retd) Ashok Tara, who rescued Premier Sheikh Hasina and her kin from captivity of Pakistani troops in 1971, were among 61 “foreign friends” honoured by Bangladesh here on Saturday for their remarkable contribution to its Liberation War.

Several of the elderly foreign friends appeared in wheelchairs to receive the award from President Zillur Rahman and Premier Sheikh Hasina, while some others were represented by their relatives as they were honoured posthumously under a government plan to formally acknowledge their contributions.

Former Prime Minister Gujral and ex-Nepalese Premier Girija Prasad Koirala were conferred with the “Bangladesh Liberation War Honour” while the rest were awarded “Friends of Liberation War” honour.

The then Indian Defence Minister Jagjivan Ram and a number of veterans of Indian army who fought the 1971 war, including Colonel (Retd) Ashok Tara, were among those conferred with the “Friends of Liberation War” honour at a special, third of its kind ceremony in Bangladesh.

Out of the 61 foreign friends awarded were 51 Indians.

Some of these people extended their support to Bangladesh as aid-workers, politicians, journalists, artists and diplomats.

Actress and Rajya Sabha MP Shabana Azmi received the award on behalf of her late father Kaifi Azmi, while Jagjivan Ram’s grandson and Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar’s son Anshul Abhijit received the crest on his behalf.

“He (Ram) was instrumental in the creation of the joint command of Bangladesh and Indian forces for the final assault (on Pakistani troops) which led to the victory,” the citation for the ex-Indian Defence Minister read.

Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pankaj Sharan represented several Indians at the ceremony at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.

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