During the Liberation War, the Health Minister of West Bengal, Dr. Zainal Abedin worked relentlessly for the welfare of refugees. He regularly visited the refugee camps and provided assistance to them. He was an organizer of Mukti Shangram Shahayak Samity and Chairman of the Relief Committee of Government of West Bengal and successfully tackled the outbreak of cholera and diarrhoea in the refugee camps. During the long nine months, he provided shelters to about 150 refugees and provided them with food in his two houses. For his great contribution to the Liberation War of Bangladesh, Dr. Zainal Abedin is awarded Friends of Liberation War Honour.