Mujib Scholarship Opens for Descendants of 1971 Indian Veterans

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina says she believes the descendants of Indian military personnel who actively took part in Bangladesh’s Liberation War against Pakistan will continue furthering the task their ancestors took upon, that is act as ambassadors of the friendship of these two great nations.

She made the remark while addressing a programme, organised at a hotel in New Delhi, to award the ‘Mujib Scholarship’.

The scholarship is introduced to support academic activities of the 200 students at the 10th and the 12th grade level, who are direct descendants of Indian war veterans who were either martyred or critically wounded during the war in 1971.

“I would love to see that the descendants of the war heroes act as ambassadors of Bangladesh-India friendship and draw parallels with their great forefathers. We feel, youths of both the countries need to interact more closely and connect to the shared history because they are the future leaders and leaders across the borders must work in close collaboration, as our leaders did in the past,” she said while addressing the event as chief guest.

Hasina said the scholarship is Bangladesh’s “humble effort to reconnect the younger generations to the historic past of which they are a proud part”.

She began the speech by saying: “I am deeply honoured to have this opportunity to meet you [the recipients of the scholarship] today.

“This event is especially very close to my heart as this is an opportunity for us to pay our sincere homage to all the martyrs - both from Bangladesh and India, who laid down their lives during our Liberation War in 1971 and to the war veterans of both countries. I am truly delighted to reconnect with you– the descendant family members of our war heroes.”

The prime minister said Bangladesh believes the awardees of the scholarship would have an opportunity to revisit the memories of the valour of their forefathers, relate them to the present circumstances and would continue to bridge between the two countries.

“We [Bangladesh] express our gratitude to our Indian brothers who sacrificed their invaluable lives and shed blood for the cause of our war of liberation. It is always an honour for us to remember those noble persons who sacrificed their lives. My salutations to you, to the brave hearts - our heroes."

Hasina said the relations between Bangladesh and India go far beyond strategic partnership and have further strengthened during the last decade.

"Having forged a strong partnership over the last 50 years, both countries are working on an increasingly wide range of sectoral collaboration."

The premier said her government initiated a special programme to honour foreign friends who contributed to our liberation war in 1971.

"We were fortunate to be able to hold the first ceremony of the award in 2011 when the highest civilian award to foreign friends 'Bangladesh Freedom Award' was conferred on the former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi. Subsequently, more awards were conferred on the deserving Indian leaders, including former Indian prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and former president Pranab Mukherjee," she said.

Hasina said a total of 340 foreign nationals and organisations were honoured. Among them, 226 were from India alone.

Recalling incumbent Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Bangladesh last year, she said: “2021 was a landmark year in our relations as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Bangladesh to join the historic celebrations of the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh's Independence and 50th anniversary of the establishment of two countries diplomatic relations.”

The prime minister also recalled with gratitude that the president of India joined the celebration of the 50 anniversary of Bangladesh's victory in December 2021 in Dhaka.

Highlighting the resolution of longstanding issues of demarcation of maritime and land boundaries bear testimony to that effect, she said, "The relationship is known to be the 'Role Model for the Neighborhood Diplomacy' worldwide."

The people of Bangladesh, Hasina added, should not forget that India, its government, people and armed forces stood beside Bangladesh during its war of independence.

“I want this friendship to last forever.”

In conclusion, she said: “I would like to conclude by praying to the Almighty to bless the new generation so that they may carry the torch of friendship forward for the next 50 years and beyond.”

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Bangladesh Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq also spoke at the programme._bdnews24