Gujral, Jagjivan, Col Tara honoured by Bangladesh

Former Prime Minister I K Gujral, late defence minister Jagjivan Ram and Colonel (retd) Ashok Tara, who rescued PM Sheikh Hasina and her kin from captivity of Pakistani troops in 1971, were among 61 "foreign friends" honoured by Bangladesh 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 PM Sheikh Hasina, while some others were represented by their relatives as they were honoured posthumously under a government plan to formally acknowledge their contributions.

Gujral and former Nepal PM 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 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, 51 were Indians.

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

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