Bangladesh Betar honours its 1971 founders

The government-run Bangladesh Betar has honoured those who had played the key role in the establishment of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra during the Liberation War in 1971.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina handed the mementos and money to the heroes or their families at the inaugural ceremony of the radio station’s golden jubilee at Jatiya Betar Bhaban at Dhaka’s Agargaon on Monday.

In her address, she urged the authorities to modernise the state-owned radio station and assured them of government assistance.

Those honoured are Syed Abdus Shaker, Belal Mohammad, Mustafa Anwara Hossain Khan, Kazi Habib Uddin Ahmed and Abul Kashem Sandwip (posthumous), Md Aminur Rahman, Abdullah Al-Faruk, AM Sharfuzzaman and Mohammad Rezaul Karim Chowdhury.

Each has been given Tk 100,000, a crest and a memento.

Congratulating the recipients, the prime minister said: “The Father of the Nation had decided to give the award. Accordingly a gazette was also issued.”

She added that she was happy to accomplish the incomplete works of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

A group of radio officials and employees defected from Pakistan and announced its Chittagong station as Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra.

It played a vital role in the Liberation War, broadcasting the Proclamation of Independence and raising morale of the Bangalis during the war.