The Sheikh Hasina government of Bangladesh will posthumously honour on December 16, Vijay Diwas, Indian soldiers who laid down their lives in the Bangladesh Liberation War against Pakistan in 1971.

The Bangladesh government has prepared a list of 25 martyrs who would be honoured this year, the second time since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took the first initiative during her visit to Delhi in April 2017.

“The prime minister of Bangladesh has decided to confer the honour on the family members of Indian soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice during our country’s war of independence,” Toufique Hasan, deputy high commissioner of Bangladesh, said.

The award will include a silver crest, speech of Hasina and two books by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman — Prison Diaries and Unfinished Memoirs. “This is unique in a way. Bangladesh is saluting Indian martyrs who fought the Liberation War,” he said.

India suffered 12,189 casualties and the Eastern Command alone had 5,729 casualties. The war started on March 26, 1971, and ended with Pakistan’s surrender on December 16, 1971.

Bangladesh has drawn up a list of 1,600 Indian martyrs, Hasan said. The exact number is being worked upon by the government, he said. “A nine-member delegation from Bangladesh, led by the minister in charge of Liberation War Affairs A.K.M. Mozammel Haque will reach Calcutta to honour the family members of the martyrs.

“The Bangladesh government has decided to honour all on the list over a period of time.”

Eastern Command will host a 72-member delegation from Bangladesh, including 30 Muktijoddhas and six serving officers from the Bangladesh armed forces at this year’s Vijay Diwas celebrations.

“Vijay Diwas epitomises the valour of our men in uniform many of whom laid down their lives. This day is celebrated as a day of remembrance for all of us,” Major General N.D. Prasad of the Eastern Command said.