Govt of Bangladesh to award Indian former army officer for 1971 role

The government of Bangladesh will confer "Friends of Bangladesh Award" on a retired Indian army officer for his outstanding contributions to the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971.
The decision was made at the weekly cabinet meeting at the Prime Ministers' Office yesterday.
The awardee is Col (retd) Ashok Tara who rescued Begum Fajilatunnesa Mujib, Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Rehana and Sheikh Russel, who were confined by the Pakistani military to a house at Dhanmondi on December 17, a day after the liberation was won.
Begum Fajilatunnesa Mujib was the mother of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Rehana and Sheikh Russel.
Ashok Tara risked his life to save the family members of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told reporters after the meeting.
Ashok, who was the commander of 14 Guard Regiment during the war, negotiated with the Pakistani army who had cordoned off the house of the family members of Bangabandhu and forced them to surrender, Musharraf said.
The Indian army officer also fought in the battlefield against the Pakistani occupation forces in Dhaloi, Gangasagar, Bhairob and Brahmanbaria areas of the then East Pakistan, he added.
On his return from Pakistan jail on January 10, 1972, Bangabandhu called the officer and thanked him for his bravery, said the cabinet secretary.
Asked when the award would be handed over, the secretary said it would be done at a convenient time in consultation with the awardee.
The cabinet also endorsed the draft of Disaster Management Act, 2012.
According to the draft, a disaster management council will be formed under the leadership of the prime minister whenever a disaster strikes, the cabinet secretary said, adding that a directorate would be formed to this end.
The proposed law specifies the responsibilities of the armed forces, law enforcement agencies and other government organisations during a disaster.
The cabinet also approved Bangladesh Silk Development Board Act, 2012 for the overall development of the sector.