Freedom Honour for 129

The government will confer "Bangladesh Freedom Honour" on some 129 foreign nationals and organisations for their outstanding contributions in the 1971 Liberation War.
They will be awarded at a ceremonial reception at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre on March 27, said foreign ministry sources.
President Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will distribute medals, crests and citations among the distinguished awardees.
So far, around 30 recipients have confirmed their participation at the event and about 35 more would confirm soon, a foreign ministry official told The Daily Star.
Family members and close relatives of those posthumously awarded have been invited to receive the awards on their behalf.
If any ailing recipient cannot travel to Dhaka, the award will be handed over to him/her through the Bangladesh missions abroad.
The government will bear all the expenses including air travel and accommodation for the awardees.
The Indian awardees include Mother Teresa, former Tripura chief minister Sachindra Lal Singh, Sardar Swaran Singh, incumbent Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarker, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, Lata Mangeshkar, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw and Lt Gen (retd) Jagjit Singh Aurora.
Senator Edward Kennedy, Archer Kent Blood, Father Evans, Senator Fred Roy Harris, Alan Ginsberg and Richard Taylor are among the American recipients of the award.
Besides, British nationals George Harrison, Harold Wilson, Peter Shore, Mark Tully and Simon Dring have made the list.
Pakistani citizens Kazi Faiz Mohammad, Nasima Akhter, Khan Abdul Gaffer Khan and Air Marshal (retd) Asghar Khan will also be honoured.
International Committee of the Red Cross, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Oxfam, World Peace Council (India), British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Akashvani are among the institutional honourees.
The first such award was conferred posthumously on former Indian premier Indira Gandhi on July 24 last year. Sonia Gandhi, president of Indian Congress, had received the award on behalf of her mother-in-law.
A special committee has so far listed 550 foreigners for "Bangladesh Freedom Honour."
The process of honouring the foreigners is expected to be complete by next year.