Cabinet approval on awarding Indira likely today

The cabinet today is likely to approve a proposal of finalising the award to be given to former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi posthumously for her "tremendous support" to the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971.

Official sources said the foreign ministry and liberation war affairs ministry, which have jointly prepared summary of the words of citation and design of medal, will place a proposal in the cabinet for approval today.

In the meantime, the government has prepared a list of 450 foreign friends for the award for their outstanding contribution in the liberation war.

Indian Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi, who will visit here to attend an international conference on autism, will receive the Foreign Friends Award on behalf of her mother-in-law at a simple ceremony at Bangabhaban on July 25.

President Zillur Rahman would handover the award to Sonia Gandhi at the event to be attended by renowned freedom fighters, ministers, diplomats and elite of the city.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Sonia Gandhi are expected to address the one-hour programme from 5:30pm at Bangabhaban while Foreign Minister Dipu Moni is expected to deliver welcome address, said official sources.

"We will start the process of awarding our foreign friends by giving the award to Indira Gandhi first," Dipu Moni said and added that work on preparing the list of foreign friends is going on.

Source : The Daily Star 

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