DHAKA: The government will award 108 foreign nationals recognizing their contribution to the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971.

A national committee has prepared a preliminary list by evaluating the contribution of foreigners to the War of Liberation, official sources said.  

``Further discussions will take place before finalisation of the list,” a member of the committee said.

The list contains statesman, politician, artist, writer, journalist, organization, and military personalities of different countries who played important roles during the War of Liberation and helped the Bengalis attain independence.

Names of former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, former president of the Soviet Union Nikolai Podgorny, Cuban revolutionary and former president Fidel Castro, former Sri Lankan President Sirimavo Bandaranaike, veteran communist leader of India Jyoti Basu, former Senator of the United States Edward F Kennedy, Indian leader Pranab Mukherjee, BBC journalist Mark Tully and journalist Simon Dring are included in the list.

Two of the committee members confirmed the names to banglanews24.com.bd, saying that the government has decided to award them in phases.

The first group of selected foreigners will receive award on 26th March 2011 during the celebration of the 40th anniversary of independence of Bangladesh.

The national committee finalised the guidelines to honour the foreign friends in a meeting Sunday at the Foreign Ministry with Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni in the chair.

“Preparing the list is a continuous process as we are getting names from Bangladesh missions abroad and several individuals and organizations,” Dipu Moni told journalists after the meeting.

She said if anyone is left out from the , he or she will be honoured during the next independence day or victory day of Bangladesh.

”However, the process will now begin from the 40th anniversary of independence celebrations,” she said.

Selected individuals or family members of deceased ones will be invited for receining the lorels. If anyone fails to turn up, Bangladesh missions abroad will hand over their awards, she added.

Mohiuddin Ahmed, former foreign secretary and a member of the committee, told banglanews24.com.bd: ”The list was placed in the meeting and we decided to finalize after taking input from different individuals and organizations.”

Indivisuals and organizations will be invited to propose names of foreigners, he added.

The award carries a gold medal of 50 gram 18 carat gold and certificate.  

State Minister for Cultural Affairs Pramod Mankin MP, secretary of the Liberation War Ministry Uzzal Bikash Dutta, journalist Shariar Kabir and Dr. Shamsul Bari were present at the meeting.

BDST: 2000 HRS, JULY 18, 2010.