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Published on October 1, 2013
Sheikh Hasina said that Bangladesh has been able to initiate a process to bring an end to the culture of impunity the perpetrators imposed upon the nation. "This initiative has ensured the justice instead of denial of justice through fair and transparent trial of the people responsible," she said.Mentioning that the process is thoroughly independent, the Prime Minister expressed her firm confidence that it would help the nation to close an unpleasant chapter in its history. "It would also allow us to proceed with greater clarity on our respective roles and responsibility," she added.
Expressing sincere gratitude to the 'foreign friends' for their selfless support to Bangladesh's independence, the Prime Minister said the foreign friends of the people of Bangladesh, stood by us and organized the moral and material support of the world behind our just cause."Your support reconfirmed that our cause was right and our struggle could not be trampled. You, the foreign freedom fighters for the cause of Bangladesh, rose in protest against the violence and pressed for urgent remedial action," she said.
At the functions, 59 foreign friends and an international organization were given Bangladesh Muktijuddho Sammanana (Bangladesh Liberation War Honour) and Muktijuddho Moitri Sammanana (Friends of Liberation War Honour) for their outstanding support and contributions to the emergence of Bangladesh as an independent nation in 1971. President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ceremonially handed over the awards to 60 'foreign friends' or their representatives. Of the awardees, 44 are from India, four each from Pakistan and USA, two each from UK and Japan, one each from Egypt, Sri Lanka and Turkey, and the Afro-Asian People's Solidarity Organization (AAPSO).
Each of the awardees received a crest and a citation from the President and the Prime Minister. This was the seventh such ceremony since the Awami League government started honouring foreign friends on July 25, 2011, as a mark of the nation's gratitude to them. So far 338 personalities and organisations have been honoured.
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