Hero and Traiter
The remains of an air force officer have returned on Saturday from Pakistan to Bangladesh - 35 years after the country’s war of independence.
The remains of Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman were received by the prime minister with full military honours.
In April, Pakistan agreed to return the remains of the pilot, who is now a decorated war hero in Bangladesh.
He was killed while trying to fly away with a Pakistan air force jet, just before Bangladesh’s independence.
Flt Lt Rahman died in August 1971 - four months before Bangladesh won its independence from Pakistan - while attempting to fly a Pakistani fighter jet from Karachi to Dhaka.
His actions won him the highest ward for gallantry in Bangladesh - the Bir Sreshtha (Greatest of Heroes) medal.
‘Hijacking’
He and his co-pilot were killed when their aircraft crashed shortly before leaving what is now Pakistani airspace.
Flt Lt Rahman was later buried in the Pakistani port city of Karachi.
Pakistan always maintained that his Pakistani trained co-pilot, Rashid Minhas, prevented what it calls a “hijacking” by forcing the plane to crash.
He in turn was immediately decorated with Pakistan’s highest gallantry award, the Nishan-e-Haider, while Flt Lt Rahman was declared a traitor.
The Pakistani authorities agreed to hand over his remains following a request by the Bangladeshi Prime Minister, Khaleda Zia, during a recent visit to Islamabad.
An official delegation from Dhaka visited Pakistan this week to complete the formalities for the body to be returned.
His family members say they are very happy that Flt Lt Rahman’s remains have finally come home.
Officials say they returned late on Saturday and were taken to the National Parade Square in the capital where a special prayer will take place on Sunday morning.
The general public then will be allowed to pay their respects.
Later, the remains will be buried with full military honours at a graveyard reserved for Bangladeshi freedom fighters.
In April the Pakistani foreign ministry said the return of the remains was a “goodwill gesture”.
Bangladesh - formerly known as East Pakistan - says that hundreds of thousands of people died in the struggle for independence.
i first read it and the name rang bells and then i was sure that I was thinking right its the same per who was with Rashi minhas the hero who won the battle of heroes. I dont know why BD awarded him award he wasnt successfull what he suppose to do and lost life. or just an effort is enough to get the highest award?
apart from that how do you guys see this transfer of the remains of his body of hero that Pakistan consider a traitor. I think it should have been returned to the family before.