SM Krishna thanks Bangladesh for honouring 1971 Indian war heroes

India on Wednesday thanked Dhaka for its decision to honour Indian nationals and groups for their role in the 1971 war that led to the birth of Bangladesh. Foreign minister SM Krishna wrote to his Bangladeshi counterpart Dipu Moni, saying that the “cause of liberation of Bangladesh has been very close to our hearts, and the government and the people of India have been extremely proud of their association with the historic liberation war”.

According to official sources, Krishna said that this initiative would further strengthen the friendship between the two countries and will have a significant impact in preserving memories in the mind of the youth and in “enlightening future generations about the achievements of the people of Bangladesh”.

Last year, Bangladesh had conferred the Bangladesh Freedom of Honour posthumously on Indira Gandhi, who was the then PM when Pakistan and India fought the 1971 war.

Last week, Bangladesh honoured a host of Indians and Indian organizations for their contribution to the 1971 war which included, among others, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, Lt Gen Jagjit Singh Aurora, Lt Gen J F R Jacob and Arundhati Ghose.

Bangladesh celebrated its 41st Independence Day on Monday with rich tributes paid to war heroes. On March 26, 1971, the people of then East Pakistan began a military campaign against Pakistani armed forces in retaliation to largescale killings of civilians opposed to Islamabad.