Awards and decorations of the Bangladesh Liberation War

Awards and decorations of the Bangladesh Liberation War were decorations bestowed by the major warring parties for actions during the Bangladesh Liberation War. Bangladesh, India and Pakistan all issued awards and decorations related to the conflict.

A listing of the medals bestowed are as follows:

Bangladesh

Gallantry awards

A total of 677 participants of the Bangladesh War 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

The Bir Sreshtho (), is the highest military award of Bangladesh. It was awarded to seven freedom fighters who showed utmost bravery and died in action for their nation. They are considered martyrs.

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 or the UK's Victoria Cross. 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).

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Bir Uttom ()

Recipients <br/>

Bir Bikrom ()

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. In recent 1 Bir Bikrom title award postponed. So total Bir Bikram awarded person is 174.<br/>

Bir Protik ()

This award was officially declared on 15 December 1973 through the Bangladesh Gazette. According to the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, a total of 426 people have received the award.

Liberation War medals

Civilian awards

Independence Award

The Independence Day Award (), also termed Independence Award (), Swadhinata Padak, and Swadhinata Puroskar, is the highest state award given by the government of Bangladesh. 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.

Bangladesh Freedom Honour -(); posthumously conferred on former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi.
Bangladesh Liberation War Honour -(); conferred to heads of states and heads of governments:

King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck
President Fidel Castro
President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed
President Pranab Mukherjee
Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral.
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Acting Prime Minister Gulzarilal Nanda
President Ram Baran Yadav
Prime Minister/ Acting Head of State Girija Prasad Koirala
Prime Minister Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala
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

Friends of Liberation War Honour -(); conferred to individuals, six organisations and Mitra Bahini. The individuals include 257 Indians, 88 Americans, 41 Pakistanis, 39 Britons, 9 Russians, 18 Nepalese, 16 French and 18 Japanese. Three ceremonies were held between March 2012 and October 2012.