GK
Shikhi

Lesson 1/34 min

The gallantry awards

How the awards came about

  • In early May 1971 Commander-in-Chief Osmani proposed gallantry titles to the Mujibnagar cabinet; the cabinet approved it on 16 May
  • The four names were fixed at a cabinet meeting on 14 February 1972
  • A committee headed by Air Vice Marshal A. K. Khondakar scrutinised the lists
  • The titles were announced in a government gazette on 15 December 1973

The four awards and the 1973 gazette numbers

RankAwardAwardees
1stBir Sreshtho7
2ndBir Uttam68
3rdBir Bikram175
4thBir Protik426

According to Banglapedia, 676 people received titles in the 1973 gazette. All seven Bir Sreshtho were awarded posthumously.

Watch out: Books differ: one gives Bir Uttam 69, Bir Bikram 175, Bir Protik 426 (total 677); another gives 68, 174 and 424. The numbers changed after the gazette: in 2010 Brigadier Jamil was posthumously awarded the Bir Uttam, and a gazette of 6 June 2021 revoked the titles of the four killers of Bangabandhu (one Bir Uttam, one Bir Bikram, two Bir Protik). The 1973 gazette had 7, 68, 175 and 426.

Awardees by force (Banglapedia)

ForceAwardees
Army288
Ganabahini175
Bangladesh Rifles149
Navy24
Air Force21
Mujahid/Ansar14
Police5

A few ‘only’ and ‘youngest’

  • Two women are among the awardees; five were non-Bengalis, of whom one was a foreigner
  • The only indigenous Bir Bikram: U. K. Ching Marma
  • The youngest Bir Protik: Shahidul Islam (Lalu)

Check yourself

Name the four awards in order of rank.

At a glance

  1. 1

    The titles were announced in the gazette of 15 December 1973; in rank order: Bir Sreshtho, Bir Uttam, Bir Bikram, Bir Protik.

  2. 2

    The 1973 gazette: Bir Sreshtho 7, Bir Uttam 68, Bir Bikram 175, Bir Protik 426; 676 in all (Banglapedia).

  3. 3

    All seven Bir Sreshtho were awarded posthumously.

  4. 4

    In 2010 Brigadier Jamil was posthumously given the Bir Uttam; on 6 June 2021 the titles of four killers were revoked.

  5. 5

    The only indigenous Bir Bikram is U. K. Ching Marma; the youngest Bir Protik is Shahidul Islam (Lalu).