President Abdul Hamid said the assumption of office of the present government had enabled the country to return to the ideals for which it fought for in 1971.
“The government is working to uphold the principles of the constitution, democracy, secularism and social justice,” he said while handing over “Bangladesh Liberation War Honour” and “Friends of Bangladesh Liberation War Honour” along with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city.
The government on Wednesday handed over ‘Bangladesh Liberation War Honour’ to two personalities and ‘Friends of Bangladesh Liberation War Honour’ awards to 57 individuals and an organisation for their contributions to the country’s War of Liberation in 1971, reports BSS.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni, State Minister for Liberation War Affairs AB Tajul Islam and Pranabranjan Ray, among others, spoke at the function.
Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan read out the citations of the award recipients.
President Abdul Hamid said: “We initiated the War Crimes Trials through the International Crimes Tribunal which was set up by the present government in 2009 to investigate and prosecute suspects for the genocide in 1971 by the Pakistan occupation army and their local collaborators – Razakars, Al-Badr and Al-Shams.”
Expressing his deepest gratitude to the friends of Bangladesh Liberation War, the president said: “Our efforts combined with yours culminated in attainment of statehood by Bangladesh.
This is the indelible bond of friendship and love between you and the people of Bangladesh which will be written in golden letters in our nation’s history.”
President said: “Your unflinching support helped us in reaching out to the world and making our voice heard as we fought for our cherished freedom and liberty.”
“You helped us in numerous ways during the Liberation War by raising awareness in your own countries, attracting media conscience in our favour, providing military support, training our freedom fighters, assisting our fleeing refugees, providing them food and shelter, raising awareness internationally organizing and holding meetings in favour of our Liberation War,” the president said.
President Abdul Hamid said Bangladesh had achieved significant progress both at national and international levels.
The achievements in flourishing democracy, establishing human rights and rule of law, ensuring food security, increasing power generation advancing information technology, empowering women, improving child and maternal health care are noteworthy and recongnized by the world, he observed.
“We are the leading voice on the issue of global climate change and the ardent advocate of global peace,” the president said.
Foreign friends from the USA, the UK, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Japan and Turkey were honored at the event.
Cabinet Division, Ministry of Liberation War Affairs and Ministry of Foreign Affairs jointly organised the programme.
This was the 7th such ceremony since the present government began honouring foreign friends as a mark of the nation’s gratitude to them on July 25, 2011, with conferring ‘Bangladesh Freedom Honour’ on Indira Gandhi posthumously.