Bangladesh receives remains of 1971 war hero

The Indian Army handed over the mortal remains of a Bangladesh war hero to a delegation from that country on Sunday at Ambasa, 123 kilometres from Agartala.

By Pinaki Das

Ambasa (Tripura), Dec.10 : The Indian Army handed over the mortal remains of a Bangladesh war hero to a delegation from that country on Sunday at Ambasa, 123 kilometres from Agartala.

Hamidur Rahman died at a young age of 17 during the 1971 Bangladesh War.

In 1973, the Bangladesh' government formally issued a citation declaring Rahman as Bir Shreshtha (or, the greatest hero). He was one of the seven warriors who were posthumously conferred the highest gallantry award for their role in the Bangladesh war.

Hamidur Rahman was a soldier of the then 1st East Bengal Regiment of the Mukti Yuddha Bahini (Liberation Force) . He died in the battle against the Pakistani Army's 39th Frontier Force near Paharmura in the Maulavi Bazar on October 28, 1971.

His dead body was duly buried in Tripura's bordering Hatimarachara Village in Dhalai District.

On Sunday morning, a joint India-Bangladesh team collected Rahman's remnants following a three-hour digging on Rahman's burial spot for nearly four decades.

The Indian Army handed over Rahman's last remains in the afternoon to the seven member Bangladeshi delegation after a formal gun salute by the Indian Army at Ambasa Circuit House. The delegation was led by Mohammad Humayun Kabir Khan, Joint Secretary in Ministry of Liberation War Affairs of Bangladesh.

For Mohammad Faiz-ur-Rehaman, the late Hamidur's younger brother, who was present on the occasion, it was an emotional moment. He expressed his gratitude to India and the government of Bangladesh and India . His brother would now get a burial in his country.

"The coffin would be taken by road to Comilla through the Birbazar post on the India-Bangladesh border on Monday and then to Dhaka where it would be ceremonially received by Bangladesh President Iajuddin Ahmed at the National Parade Ground at Tezgaon Tuesday.

The body of Rahman would find a place at the graveyard reserved for freedom fighters at Mirpur on the outskirts of Dhaka," said Lt. Col. (retd) Sajjad Ali Zahir, one of theember of the Bangladeshi delegation.

Lt.-Col Sajjad thanked the Indian authorities for their cooperation.

On December 16, Bangladesh will commemorate its 37th Bijoy Dibas, the anniversary of the liberation of Bangladesh. The liberation war was fought by the Mukti Bahini of the East Pakistan and the Indian Army against the Pakistan Army .

Two years ago, Bangladesh received the remains of another gallantry award recipient, Flight Lieutenant Motiur Rahman, from Pakistan for reburial with full Stateonours.

ANI