Tripura govt hands over remains of 1971 war hero to Bangladesh

Agartala, Dec 9 (UNI) The Tripura government today formally handed over the remains of Bangladesh liberation war hero Hamidur Rahman to the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Bangladesh Liberation and War Affairs Humayun Kabir.

Official sources said Dhali District Magistrate and Collector B B Das handed over the remains to a seven-member delegation, led by Mr Kabir, which would take the remains back home for a ceremonial burial on the eve of the 36th Independence Day of Bangladesh.

''We had dug out the remains from Purbaraipara village in Ambassa district and put them into a coffin, which was handed over to the Bangladesh representatives,'' Mr Das told UNI over phone.

The Bangladeshi delegation, including the slain Hamidur Rahman's younger brother Fajlur Rahman, reached Ambassa this morning to bring back the remains.

The coffin would be taken by road to Comilla through the Bibirbazar post on the Indo-Bangladesh border tomorrow, Mr Das said.

Mr Kabir said the coffin would be ceremonially received by Bangladesh President Iajuddin Ahmed and later buried at the graveyard reserved for freedom fighters at Mirpur on the outskirts of Dhaka.

Hamidur Rahman is one of the seven heroes honoured with the highest gallantry award in Bangladesh - Bir Shreshtha - for their contribution in the Independence War of 1971.

He was killed while fighting the Pakistani forces at the Ambasa area of Tripura on October 28, 1971, and was buried there, Mr Kabir added.

UNI