Bangladesh mourns Manekshaw

Haroon Habib

DHAKA: The death of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, who was the Chief of the Indian Army as well as the joint India-Bangladesh command during the Bangladesh liberation war in 1971, was deeply condoled here .

Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said in a message to External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, “The people and the government of Bangladesh will always recall with warm gratitude his signal contribution to our War of Liberation and his association with a glorious epoch in the history of Bangladesh’s evolution.”

Conveying his condolence to Manakshaw’s bereaved family and the Indian Chief of the Army Staff, Bangladesh’s Chief of the Army staff General Moeen U. Ahmed said: Manekshaw’s successful leadership as the chief of the allied force in the Liberation War in 1971 had helped Bangladesh achieve a quick victory in the war.

Socio-political and freedom fighter organisations have condoled the death of Manekshaw whose historic call to the enemy army ensured the final surrender of 92,000 Pakistani solders in Dhaka, ending the war.