Role of Diplomats in 1971
Asma Kibria dismayed by non-recognition
Asma Kibria, wife of former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria, has expressed dismay for not recognising the contributions of some of the diplomats for their service to the country during the Liberation War of Bangladesh.
Responding to observance of the "Foreign Office Day" on April 23 and awarding to a number of diplomats, who declared their allegiance to the Mujibnagar government on April 18 in 1971, she said that contributions of some of those diplomats such as her husband Kibria together with Enayet Karim defected in Washington D.C from the Pakistan Embassy were not recognised by the foreign ministry.
In a letter to Foreign Secretary Mijarul Quayes on April 24, Asma Kibria said after the liberation her husband (Kibria) served as director general and then secretary of the foreign ministry and developed its organisational structure and ensured official recognition for the country and met the diplomatic challenges of a generally hostile international environment.
"You yourself must be aware that Kibria is regarded as one of the people who laid the foundation for the modern foreign ministry."
Asma Kibria said in her letter and added that Enayet Karim also served as the foreign secretary with great distinction before he died in 1974.
It is ironic that the contributions of both these men were forgotten by the Awami League government, she added.
When contacted, a senior official of the foreign ministry told The Daily Star that the name of late Shah Kibria is very much in the list of the 25 awardees. "He (KIbria) is one of the prominent figures of the foreign service and the foreign ministry has not forgotten his name. Even his crest was ready, but on April 23 we awarded only 18 persons and rest of the awardees will be awarded soon," he added.
On April 18 in 1971, the then deputy high commissioner in Kolkata M Hossain Ali along with its 65 officials and staff declared their allegiance to the Mujibnagar government by hoisting its red-green national flag atop the mission. It was followed in other missions when Bengali officials defected service from Pakistan.
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