By Satarupa Sandilya
In an important initiative symbolising warming bilateral relations, Bangladesh has asked India to send the names of around 8,000 soldiers, who were killed fighting Pakistani forces during the 1971 war of liberation, to honour them.
Dhaka has also made a special pitch for jointly making a film with India on the liberation war that has a special resonance in collective memories of the people of India and Bangladesh.
At a recent media interaction held at Jamia Millia Islamia university in the Indian capital, Bangladesh Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasanul Haq Inu has said that he has requested his Indian counterpart Manish Tewari to find out the names and details of the Indian soldiers whose contribution can be acknowledged with a certificate of honour.
Inu reminisced about Bangladesh’s journey since its independence in 1971 and recalled his close involvement in the war, along with Bangladesh founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, popularly called ‘Bangabandhu’ (Friend of Bengal). “The 8,000 Indian soldiers who laid down their lives for the liberation struggle of Bangladesh have almost been forgotten. I don’t want to forget.” He also saluted the leadership of the then prime minister of India Indira Gandhi and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman that won his country its freedom.
Eloquently arguing a case for making a film that will keep alive the memories of the 1971 war, he stressed that film buffs in India and Bangladesh can now look forward to seeing movies filmed in each other’s countries, but added that scholars from both countries have to brainstorm together and come up with a script.
Alluding to Bangladesh’s rich biodiversity and its myriad attraction as a locale for shooting films, the minister, however, regretted that so far no film had yet been made which could portray the liberation struggle in all its complexity. He called upon producers, directors and investors to consider making a film on the epic war.
On July 25, 2012, Indira Gandhi was awarded posthumously the highest honour of Bangladesh. India’s President Pranab Mukherjee, who has friends and admirers cutting across the spectrum in Bangladesh, was also conferred the ‘Bangladesh Liberation War Honour’ during his visit to Dhaka in March this year. The citation for Mukherjee said the award was being conferred in recognition of Bangladesh’s deep gratitude for his outstanding contribution to the liberation war.
At a historic ceremony held in Dhaka, Bangladesh also posthumously honoured Lt. Gen. Jagjit Singh Aurora and former West Bengal chief minister Jyoti Basu, among other Indians, for their contribution to the 1971 war. Aurora was the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Indian Army’s Eastern Command and had accepted the surrender of 95,000 Pakistani soldiers from Pakistani commander Lt. Gen A.A.K Niazi.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed recalled the critical contribution of India and its leader in spurring the independence of Bangladesh. “Around 10 million Bangladeshis took refuge in India during the uneven war against Pakistan occupation army in 1971. Apart from giving humanitarian aid, the Indian government extended political, diplomatic and military supports.” “The assistance and support of India hastened our independence. We’ll remember this cooperation of India with gratitude,” she had said.
The latest initiative by Dhaka to honour more Indian soldiers come at a time when the once-troubled India-Bangladesh relations have been transformed in the last five years by greater counter-terror cooperation and mutual accommodation of each other’s concerns and sensitivities. India has pledged $1 billion soft loan for a host of development projects in Bangladesh.
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