Editorial
Recognising the foreign friends of 1971
An honour long overdue
Today, the State honours 75 foreign nationals who contributed to the independence movement of Bangladesh with the "Friends of Liberation War Honour" and the "Bangladesh Liberation War Honour". Forty-one years into the birth of our nation, journalists, former army officers, politicians and others who played a role at the time, and, for those not alive today, members of their families, have returned or have come for the first time to the country to whose liberation they contributed. Of the 75 awardees, 21 are alive and here today, while the remaining awards will be received posthumously by their family members.
Though belated, the bestowal of honour upon them is a soul-soothing expression of our nation's gratitude to them. They stood by us during the worst of times. They spread the word about our struggle around the world. They raised funds for our cause. They risked their lives on and off the battlefield to help bring liberation for our people. Perhaps most importantly, they understood and respected the value of independence to the Bangalees and with weapon or pen or camera, through their words and actions, inspired us and took forward our cause both inside our country and around the world.
Those receiving the awards for themselves or on behalf of their family members have much to be proud of, for they contributed to the bloody yet glorious birth of a nation. But today, a day after our 41st independence day, we too are proud, not only because we live with our heads held high in an independent land where we are free to practise our own language and culture, but that we have been able to pay a long overdue respect and honour to those from faraway lands who also contributed to our struggle for liberation.
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