The outgoing government is unlikely to present any more awards this year to foreign individuals or organisations honouring their contributions to Bangladesh’s Liberation War in 1971, officials said.
In view of the ongoing political situation in the country, the liberation war affairs ministry has dropped its plans to hold a third award ceremony this year.
However, more foreign friends will be presented with awards in batches later; officials at the ministry told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.
“It would not be possible to honour our foreign friends this year,” said Md Abul Kashem Talukder, joint secretary of the ministry.
“When a new government is formed, another ceremony will likely be held on March 26, 2014,” he added.
At two other ceremonies held in March and October this year, some 129 foreign friends were awarded.
To recognise the support and contributions of foreigners and overseas organisations during the nine-month war, the Awami League-led government started handing out awards to foreign friends on July 25, 2011, conferring the highest award, “Bangladesh Freedom Honour”, posthumously on the Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Two other award categories “Bangladesh Liberation War Honour” and “Friends of Liberation War Honour” are given respectively to former heads of state/government and to individuals or organisations.
A list of 562 individual and organisations has already been prepared for the awards, ministry sources said.
Since 2011, a total of 338 individuals and organisations have already received their awards in seven phases. The others will get their awards gradually in phases.
The honoured friends include former Indian President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, former Indian PM IK Gujral, former Nepalese PM late Girija Prasad Koirala, Pakistani politicians late Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan and late Khan Abdul Wali Khan, noted singer late Suchitra Mitra and film actress Waheeda Rahman.
