Awards and decorations of the Bangladesh Liberation War were decorations which were bestowed by the major warring parties during the years of the Bangladesh Liberation War.

Bangladesh Bangladesh (}, ), officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the eighth-most populous country in the world, with a population exceeding 165 million people in an area of . Bangladesh is among the mos ...

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

and

Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 243 million people, and has the world's second-lar ...

all issued awards and decorations during the conflict. A listing of the medals bestowed after the Bangladesh War of Liberation are as follows:

Bangladesh

Gallantry awards

A total of 677 participants of the

Bangladesh War The Bangladesh Liberation War ( bn, মুক্তিযুদ্ধ, , also known as the Bangladesh War of Independence, or simply the Liberation War in Bangladesh) was a revolution and War, armed conflict sparked by the rise of the Benga ...

of Independence received gallantry awards for their service and bravery. Four categories of gallantry awards were created after the war in Bangladesh. These were: * Bir Sreshtho ribbon

Bir Sreshtho The Bir Sreshtho ( bn, বীরশ্রেষ্ঠ) (Valiant of Courage), is the highest military award of

. It was awarded to seven freedom fighters who showed utmost bravery and died in action for their nation. They are considered

martyr A martyr (, ''mártys'', "witness", or , ''marturia'', stem , ''martyr-'') is someone who suffers persecution and death for advocating, renouncing, or refusing to renounce or advocate, a religious belief or other cause as demanded by an externa ...

s. Recipients All the recipients of this award were killed in action during the Bangladesh War of Independence in 1971. The award was published by the Bangladesh Gazette on 15 December 1973. It is the highest military award of Bangladesh, similar to the U.S.

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valo ...

or the UK's

Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...

. It has only been given in 1973 to seven people. Listed below are the people who have received the Bir Srestho medal. They are all considered 'Shaheed' (Martyrs). # Roundel of Bangladesh – Army Aviation

Captain Mohiuddin Jahangir # Roundel of Bangladesh – Army Aviation

Sepoy Hamidur Rahman # Roundel of Bangladesh – Army Aviation

Sepoy Mostafa Kamal # Engineroom Artificer Ruhul Amin # Air Force Ensign of Bangladesh

Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman # Lance Naik

Munshi Abdur Rouf Munshi Abdur Rouf ( bn, মুন্সী আবদুর রউফ; 8 May 1943 – 8 April 1971) was a Lance Nayek in the East Pakistan Rifles during the Bangladesh Liberation War. He enlisted in the East Pakistan Rifles on 8 May 1963, and was ...

# Lance Naik

Nur Mohammad Sheikh Nur Mohammad Sheikh ( bn, নূর মোহাম্মদ শেখ; 26 February 1936 – 5 September 1971) was a Lance Nayek in East Pakistan Rifles during the Liberation War. He was killed in an engagement with the Pakistan Army while provid ...

Bir Uttom Bir Uttom ( bn, বীর উত্তম, lit=Great Valiant Hero) is the second highest award for individual gallantry in Bangladesh after the Bir Sreshtho and the highest gallantry award for a living individual. Since the independence of Bang ...

( bn, বীর উত্তম cc''Valiant of Courage'') Recipients *

Bir Bikrom Bir Bikrom ( bn, বীর বিক্রম, lit=Valiant hero, translit=) is the third highest gallantry award in Bangladesh. Like the other gallantry awards, this was introduced immediately after the Bangladeshi Liberation War. Bir Bikrom was ...

( bn, বীর বিক্রম ''Valiant hero'') A total of 175 fighters have been awarded on 15 December 1973 for their heroic actions at the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971. The government of Bangladesh declared the name of the awardees in Bangladesh Gazette on 15 December 1973. * Bir Protik ribbon

Bir Protik Bir Protik ( bn, বীর প্রতীক ''Bīr Pratīk'', "Symbol of Bravery or Idol of Courage") is the fourth highest gallantry award in Bangladesh. Recipients This award was declared on 15 December 1973. A total of 426 people have rece ...

( bn, বীর প্রতীক ''Idol of Courage'') This award was officially declared on 15 December 1973 through Bangladesh Gazette. A total of 426 people have received the award so far, all for their actions during the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971.

Liberation War medals

Civilian awards

Independence Day Award The Independence Day Award ( bn, স্বাধীনতা পদক), also termed Independence Award ( bn, স্বাধীনতা পুরস্কার), Swadhinata Padak, and Swadhinata Puroskar, is the highest state award given by t ...

The Independence Day Award ( bn, স্বাধীনতা পদক), also termed Independence Award ( bn, স্বাধীনতা পুরস্কার), Swadhinata Padak, and Swadhinata Puroskar, is the highest state award given by the government of

. Introduced in 1977, this award is bestowed upon Bangladeshi citizens or organisations in recognition of substantial contribution to one of many fields, including the War of Liberation, the language movement, education, literature, journalism, public service, science and technology, medical science, social science, song, games and sports, fine arts, rural development, and other areas. * Noribbon

Bangladesh Freedom Honour -( bn, বাংলাদেশ স্বাধীনতা সম্মাননা ''Bānglādēśa sbādhīnatā sam'mānanā''); posthumously conferred on former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi. * Noribbon

Bangladesh Liberation War Honour -( bn, বাংলাদেশ মুক্তিযুদ্ধ সম্মাননা ''Bānglādēśa muktiyud'dha sam'mānanā''); conferred to heads of states and heads of governments: # King

Jigme Dorji Wangchuck Jigme Dorji Wangchuck ( dz, འབྲུག་རྒྱལ་པོ་ འཇིགས་མེད་རྡོ་རྗེ་དབང་ཕྱུག་མཆོག་, ; 2 May 1928 – 21 July 1972) was the 3rd Druk Gyalpo of Bhutan. He began ...

# President Fidel Castro # President

Pranab Mukherjee Dr. Pranab Mukherjee (11 December 193531 August 2020) was an Indian politician and statesman who served as the 13th president of India from 2012 until 2017. In a political career spanning five decades, Mukherjee was a senior leader in the India ...

# Prime Minister

Inder Kumar Gujral Inder Kumar Gujral (4 December 1919 – 30 November 2012) was an Indian diplomat, politician and freedom activist who served as the 12th prime minister of India from April 1997 to March 1998. Born in Punjab, he was influenced by nationalist ...

. # Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee # President

Ram Baran Yadav Ram Baran Yadav ( mai, डा. राम वरण यादव) is a Nepali politician and physician who served as the first president of Nepal from 23 July 2008 to 29 October 2015, following the declaration of a republic in 2008. Previously h ...

# Prime Minister/ Acting Head of state

Girija Prasad Koirala Nepal Ratna Girija Prasad Koirala ( ne, गिरिजाप्रसाद कोइराला ; 4 July 1924 – 20 March 2010), affectionately known as Girija Babu, was a Nepalese politician. He headed the Nepali Congress and served as the ...

# Prime Minister Bishweshwar Prasad KoiralaFriends of freedom honoured
Wednesday, 28 March 2012, ''The Daily Star'' # General Secretary Leonid IIyich Brezhnev # President Nikolai Viktorovich Podgorny # Prime Minister Alexei Nikolaevich Kosygin # Prime Minister Sir Edward Richard George Heath # President Marshal Josip Broz Tito Noribbon

Friends of Liberation War Honour -( bn, মুক্তিযুদ্ধ মৈত্রী সম্মাননা ''Muktiyud'dha maitrī sam'mānanā''); conferred to individuals, six organisations and Mitra Bahini. The individuals include 257 Indians, 88 Americans, 41 Pakistanis, 39 Britons, nine Russians, 18 Nepalese, 16 French and 18 Japanese. Three ceremonies were held between March 2012 and October 2012.

India

Param Vir Chakra The Param Vir Chakra (PVC) is India's highest military decoration, awarded for displaying distinguished acts of valour during wartime. Param Vir Chakra translates as the "Wheel of the Ultimate Brave", and the award is granted for "most conspicu ...

Recipients of the Param Vir Chakra: * Maha Vir Chakra ribbon

Maha Vir Chakra The Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) () is the second highest military decoration in India, after the Param Vir Chakra, and is awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air. It replaced the B ...

Recipients * Vir Chakra ribbon bar

Vir Chakra Vir Chakra (pronunciation: ʋ iː ɾ a tʃ a kɾa) is an Indian wartime military bravery award presented for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy on the battlefield and is third in precedence in wartime gallantry awards a ...

Recipients , - , 13 , 2/LT ,

David A Devadasan David (; , "beloved one") (traditional spelling), , ''Dāwūd''; grc-koi, Δαυΐδ, Dauíd; la, Davidus, David; gez , ዳዊት, ''Dawit''; xcl, Դաւիթ, ''Dawitʿ''; cu, Давíдъ, ''Davidŭ''; possibly meaning "beloved one". w ...

, Indian Army - 1 MAHAR ,

Battle of Harar Kalan A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force ...

, 10/11 December 1971

Pakistan

Nishan-i-Haider Nishan-e-Haider (NH; ), is the highest military gallantry award of Pakistan. The Nishan-e-Haider is awarded posthumously and only to members of the Pakistan Armed Forces. It recognises the highest acts of extraordinary bravery in the face of ...

Recipients of the

Nishan-E-Haider Nishan-e-Haider (NH; ), is the highest military gallantry award of Pakistan. The Nishan-e-Haider is awarded posthumously and only to members of the Pakistan Armed Forces. It recognises the highest acts of extraordinary bravery in the face of ...

: # Major Muhammad Akram (posthumously) # Pilot Officer

Rashid Minhas Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas ( ur, ) was a Pakistani pilot in the Pakistan Air Force. Minhas was the only PAF officer to receive the highest valour award, the Nishan-e-Haider. He was also the youngest person and the shortest-serving officer ...

(posthumously) # Major

Shabbir Sharif Major Rana Muhammad Shabbir Sharif ( ur, ; c. 28 April 1943 – 6 December 1971) was a military officer in the Pakistan Army who was posthumously awarded the Nishan-e-Haider during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. He is the only person ever ...

(posthumously) # Sarwar Muhammad Hussain (posthumously) # Lance Naik

Muhammad Mahfuz Naik Muhammad Mahfuz (born 25 October 1944) was a Pakistani soldier, who was awarded the Nishan-e-Haider, the highest military award of Pakistan, after he was killed in battle during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. Early life Muhammad Mahf ...

(posthumously)

References

{{Bangladesh Liberation War Bangladesh and the Commonwealth of Nations India and the Commonwealth of Nations Pakistan and the Commonwealth of Nations Military awards and decorations of Bangladesh Military awards and decorations of India Military awards and decorations of Pakistan Bangladesh Liberation War