Medals of Bangladesh
International Electronic Phaleristic Encyclopedia
by Edward S.
Haynes
(© 1999)
Medals for service prior to 1971, including United Nations awards, are dealt with under Pakistan What is presented here is almost inexpressively preliminary, but - as Bangladeshi awards are almost totally unknown - "something is better than nothing". Details and corrections are welcomed.
This page represents a considerable amount of effort and original research work and users are requested (under terms of both copyright and normal academic uasge) to make reference to this page (link it as a whole) rather that extract and "borrow" information. Thank you.
First-order gallantry medal -- Name unknown?
Bir Uttam -- This is Bangladesh's second-order gallantry medal.
Bir Bikram / Bravery Medal -- This is the third-order gallantry medal. Obverse: A slightly oval copper-nickel medal, 37 x 43 mm. A stylized lotus flower in the center, the Bengali legend "Bir Bikram" or "Bravery Medal" above and crossed palm branches below. Suspended by an integral straight-bar suspender. Reverse: A lightly armed individual confronting three advancing soldiers with a Bengali legend above and below "??? / ???" "Bangladesh / Jindabad" or "Bangladesh / Long Live". Ribbon: 30 mm, dark blue with edge stripes (reading inward) of red and white. 4 mm red, 4 mm white, 14 mm dark blue, 4 mm white, 4 mm red. The ribbon is of rather coarse weave.
Bir Pratik -- Fourth-order gallantry medal.
Bravery Medal, 1971
Rana Oraka -- Obverse: A six-pointed 40-mm bronze star with balls on each point. In the center, a lotus flower emerging from the water with the surrounding Bengali legend "??? / ???" "Rana Oraka / Bangladesh" or "??? / ???". Suspended by an integral straight-bar suspender. Reverse: Two soldiers, facing right. Ribbon: 28 mm, seven stripes: 4 mm red, 2 mm medium blue, 5 mm purple, 6 mm gold-yellow, 5 mm purple, 2 mm medium blue, 4 mm red. The ribbon is of a rather coarse weave.
Shamar Padam / Army Medal -- Obverse: A slightly oval copper-nickel medal, 35 mm x 34 mm, with slight bulges on each of the four sides. In the center, crossed rifles with a tiger's head above; on either side of the rifles, the Bengali legend "??? / ???" "Shamar / Padak" or "Samar / Medal". Suspended by an integral straight-bar suspender. Reverse: A group of six soldiers marching to the left front. The design is reminiscent of the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal for WWII. Ribbon: Diagonal stripes, lower left to upper right, alternating red (4 mm) and dark green (2 mm). The ribbon is of a rather coarse weave.
Independence Medal -- 11 December 1971. Obverse: An eight-pointed bronze star with two doves in the center (one perched, one flying) and the Bengali legend below "???" "??? Oraka" or "???". Suspended by an integral straight-bar suspender. Reverse: A stylized rising sun with the Bengali legend below "??? / ???" or "11 December / 1971". Surrounding all, the Bengali legend "??? / ???" "Bangladesh / Jindabad" or "Bangladesh / Long Live". Ribbon: 31 mm, five multi-colored stripes with narrow red edges: 3 mm red, 5 mm medium blue, 5 mm pink, 5 mm red, 5 mm gold-yellow, 5 mm purple, 3 mm red. The ribbon is of a rather coarse weave.
Joy Padak / Victory Medal -- Awarded for victory in the 1971 War of Independence. Obverse: Circular 34-mm copper-nickel medal, in the center a man raising a flag and a woman carrying a rifle. Surrounding, the Bengali legend "??? / ???" "Joy Padak / Bangladesh" or "Victory Medal / Bangladesh". Suspended by an integral straight-bar suspender. Reverse: In the center, a stylized lotus flower, surrounded by the Bengali legend "??? / ???" "Amar Shona Bangla / Joy Padak" or "Our Golden Bengal / Victory Medal". The phrase "Amar Shona Bangla" is the title of the Bangladeshi national anthem. Ribbon: 27 mm, file multi-colored stripes with narrow medium blue edges: 1 mm medium blue, 5 mm dark green, 5 mm dark gold-yellow, 5 mm red, 5 mm dark gold-yellow, 5 mm dark green, 1 mm medium blue. The ribbon is of a rather coarse weave.
Shang Bidhan Padak / ??? Constitution ??? [Vidhan] Medal -- Commemorating the proclamation of the Bangladeshi constitution, ???. Obverse: Circular 35-mm copper-nickel medal. In the center, within a stylized lotus design, an upright torch with the Bengali legend above" ???" "Shang Bidhan Padak" or "??? [Vidhan] Medal". Suspended by an integral straight-bar suspender. Reverse: Within a stylized lotus design, the Bangladeshi flag with the Bengali legend below "???" or "Bangladesh". Ribbon: 29 mm, green / red / green with black edge stripes; 4 mm black, 6 mm dark green, 9 mm red, 6 mm dark green, 4 mm black. The ribbon is of a rather coarse weave.
Hill Tracts Campaign Medal -- Obverse: Circular copper-nickel, within a circle, three mountains with a sun above. On the circle, the Bengali legend "???/???" "???/???" or "???/???". Suspended by an integral straight-bar suspender. Ribbon: Light with two dark stripes.
??? for Gulf War II -- ?????. As far as can be determined, the following Bangladeshi participation can be traced:
Infantry Brigade (Mecca, Saudi Arabia). In total, an estimated 6,000 (2,231?) Bangladeshi troops participated in the war.
Flood Relief Medal -- Obverse: Circular copper-nickel, the Bengali emblem above waters with the surrounding Bengali legend "???/???" "???/???" or "???/???". Suspended by an integral straight-bar suspender. Ribbon: Dark with a light zigzag pattern.
Cyclone Relief Medal -- Obverse: Circular copper-nickel medal, with serrated upped edge. A heavily stylized storm scene with a Bengali legend above (???) "???" "???" or "???". Suspended by an integral straight-bar suspender. Ribbon: Five stripes, with narrow edges?
Internal Relief Medal
Thirty-Year Service Medal
Twenty-Year Service Medal
Ten-Year Service Medal -- Obverse: Circular bronze (?) medal. Within a wreath, there is a five-pointed star with rays between the points and the Bangladeshi emblem in the center. Above and below, the Bengali legend "???/???" "???/???" or "???/???". Suspended by an integral straight-bar suspender. Ribbon: Dark, with a central light stripe.
UNITED NATIONS: United Nations Angola Verification Mission, UNAVEM I, January 1989-June 1991, UNAVEM II, June 1991-February 1995, and UNAVEM III, February 1995-June 1997
UNITED NATIONS: United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG), April 1989-March 1990
UNITED NATIONS: Mission des nations unies pour le referendum dans le Sahara Occidental (MINURSO), September 1991--
UNITED NATIONS: United Nations Advance Mission in Cambodia (UNAMIC), November 1991-March 1992
UNITED NATIONS: United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR), March 1992-December 1995
UNITED NATIONS: United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM), April 1991--
UNITED NATIONS: United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINSURO), September 1991--
UNITED NATIONS: United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC), March 1992-September 1993
UNITED NATIONS: United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR), March 1992--
UNITED NATIONS: United Nations Operations in Somalia , UNOSOM I, April 1992-April 1993, and UNOSOM II, May 1993-March 1995
UNITED NATIONS: United Nations Operation in Mozambique (ONUMOZ), December 1992-December 1994
UNITED NATIONS: United Nations Observer Mission Uganda-Rwanda (UNOMUR), June 1993--
UNITED NATIONS: United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG), August 1993--
UNITED NATIONS: United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL), September 1993--
UNITED NATIONS: United Nations Mission in Haiti (UNMIH), September 1993-June 1996
UNITED NATIONS: United Nations Assistance Mission in Rwanda (UNAMIR), October 1993-March 1996
UNITED NATIONS: United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT), December 1994--
UNITED NATIONS: United Nations Confidence Restoration Operation (UNCRO), March 1995-January 1996
UNITED NATIONS: United Nations Preventative Deployment Force (UNPREDEP), March 1995--
UNITED NATIONS: United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH), December 1995--
UNITED NATIONS: United Nations Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja, and Western Sirmium (UNTAES), January 1996--
UNITED NATIONS: United Nations Mission of Observers in Prevalka (UNMOP), January 1996--
UNITED NATIONS: United Nations Observer Mission in Angola (MONUA), July 1997--