Bangladesh recognises Indian soldier’s sacrifice after 53 years

The family of martyr Sepoy Hans Raj from Chamral village in the Fatehpur Assembly constituency was honoured with the prestigious ‘Liberation War Honour’ award on behalf of the Bangladesh Government, over 53 years after his sacrifice in the 1971 Indo-Pak war. Sepoy Hans Raj laid down his life on December 6, 1971, during the Bangladesh Liberation War. He was one of 1,600 Indian soldiers who displayed exemplary courage and made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).

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The award was presented at the martyr’s native village by officials of the 21 Punjab Regiment, along with a citation certificate. The award ceremony was attended by the martyr’s nephews, who received the honour on behalf of the family. These awards and citations were originally issued by the Bangladesh government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on November 27, 2018, to recognise the immense contribution of Indian Armed Forces in their country’s liberation.

However, Sepoy Hans Raj’s family received the award after a long delay due to challenges in tracing the family. Being unmarried at the time of his martyrdom, there were limited official records linking him to surviving next of kin.

In a heartfelt message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep gratitude and paid rich tributes to Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lives for Bangladesh’s freedom. She stated that her government was committed to honouring all 1,600 Indian martyrs.

The martyr’s younger brother, Ram Saroop Sharma, shared that Hans Raj was the eldest among five siblings and had joined the Indian Army in October 1965. After his death, their father Runku Ram received his pension, which was later transferred to their mother Mangali Devi until her death in 1998.

Ram Saroop added that not just the family, but the entire village takes immense pride in the sacrifice of Sepoy Hans Raj and is grateful for this long-overdue recognition.