Bangladesh pays rich tributes to Manekshaw

Dhaka (PTI): Bangladesh paid glowing tributes to the iconic former Indian army chief Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, recalling his "signal contribution" to its 1971 Liberation War.

"The people and the government of Bangladesh will always recall with warm gratitude his signal contribution to our War of Liberation and his association with a glorious epoch in the history of Bangladesh's evolution," Foreign Adviser of the interim Cabinet Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said in a letter to External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

"Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw combined in him the rare qualities of a great soldier, military strategist and a leader of people he worked with."

Army chief General Moeen U Ahmed mourned the death of the celebrated master strategist of the 1971 war, saying "Bangladesh Army recalls his contribution with gratitude and pays rich tribute to the departed soul."

"The successful leadership of Field Marshal Manekshaw as the chief of Bangladesh-India allied forces helped Bangladesh achieve the quick victory during the War of Liberation in 1971," Ahmed said in a statement.

The 1971 veterans and researchers also paid their tributes to Manekshaw as a military strategist. Many recalled his landmark call for the surrender of the Pakistani troops, "lay down your weapons", through All India Radio.

"His military strategy and talented leadership as the chief of the allied forces quickened our victory in the Liberation War," deputy chief of staff of Bangladesh's Liberation Forces Air Vice Marshal (Retd) AK Khondkar said.

"We all are deeply shocked ... his role in the our Liberation War will always be remembered with gratitude."

Liberation War researcher Harun Habib called Manekshaw a "super strategist", saying his able leadership expediting surrender of Pakistanis without further resistance saved many lives, particularly in Dhaka.