Bangladesh today mourned the death of Indian general JFR Jacob, who lead Indian forces during the 1971 liberation war against Pakistan and played a key-role in the surrender of Pakistani troops.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued statements mourning the death of the decorated Lieutenant General (Retd) Jacob, whom Bangladesh earlier honoured by conferring him with the "Friend of Liberation War Honour" award.
"Bangladesh has lost a genuine friend in his death," President Hamid said in his condolence message while the premier described him as a "valiant soldier of our Great War of Liberation".
"The nation with profound respect would remember his contribution to our Liberation War forever," the premier said.
Jacob died in New Delhi today at the age of 92 due to "old age complications".
Parliamentary speaker Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury, ministers and a number of social and political forums also paid their rich tributes to the legendary Indian general, recalling his role during the entire period of the nine-month long war.
War strategists and historians described Jacob's role on December 16, 1971, as "crucial and delicate" against the backdrop of tantalising international politics as he persuaded the then Pakistani army commander Lieutenant General AAK Niazi shortly after landing in the enemy dominated Dhaka.
The subsequent records suggested that the surrender of the Pakistani troops was crucial on that day in view of the dramatic and sensitive activities in the global political and military arena.
The situation required Jacob to take possibly the most challenging task of influencing the enemy commander to sign the surrender document in soonest possible time.
In an interview to PTI four years ago Jacob, who was the chief of general staff of the India's eastern command during the war, himself said Bangladesh's independence would be uncertain if the war lingered further.
"If the war would have continued for one more day we (Indian army) would have to go back," he told state-run BSS news agency while on a visit to Dhaka to receive the honour as a distinguished 1971 foreign friend, coinciding with the country's 40th independence anniversary against Pakistan.
He recalled that heavy pressure was mounted on Indian army to ensure immediate victory to evade an eminent UN resolution asking all sides for an immediate ceasefire, meaning withdrawal of Indian army and a stalemate in the war, exposing to uncertainty the fate of Bangladesh's independence.
As fighting raged, Jacob recalled, he flew to Dhaka and wrested an unconditional surrender from Pakistan's military commander on December 16, 1971.
Born in 1923 in Bengal Presidency in a conservative Jewish family under British India, Jacob joined the army at the age of 19 in 1942 and also fought in World War II and the Indo- Pakistan War of 1965 before he retired in 1978.
