Bangladesh on Monday conferred the highest state honour for '1971 foreign friends' on the late Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi for her unique contribution to the country's Liberation War in 1971.
The Indian National Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, also daughter-in-law of Indira Gandhi, received the Bangladesh Swadhinata Sanmanona (Freedom Honour) from president Zillur Rahman at a ceremony.
The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, and nearly 1,000 high profile dignitaries were present at the function at Bangabhaban, according to state-run news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha.
Before the ceremony, Sonia Gandhi had a 25-minute meeting with the president at the Bangabhaban while the prime minister joined them at the halfway.
Bangabhaban was decorated with photographs of Indira Gandhi and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, including those taken during Indira's visit to Bangladesh in March 1972.
The dignitaries witnessed a video documentary with rare footages of Mujib and Indira before the crest was handed over to Sonia.
The three were then escorted to the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban where dignitaries waited to witness the nearly one-hour ceremony that began with Bangladesh's national anthem.
So far Indira Gandhi is
the lone recipient of the honour though the cabinet last week also decided to acknowledge the contribution of 47 other foreign friends and five international organisations to the country's 1971 independence. They would be given the awards under two other categories.
'By her (Indira Gandhi) political wisdom and vision, she influenced the course of history and the fate of generations,' Zillur Rahman said handing over the posthumous award in the form of a crest to Sonia.
The crest weighing three kilograms and designed on a 400-year-old terracotta of a 'Kadam tree' made of gold, was handed over to Sonia Gandhi. Cabinet secretary Abdul Aziz read out the citation recalling Indira's role in 1971.
Indira Gandhi was India's prime minister in 1971 when she travelled across the world to mobilise support for Bangladesh's Liberation War against Pakistan while Bangladeshi freedom fighters also received training in India and were given weapons to fight against the occupation forces.
Her government provided food and shelter to an estimated one crore people who fled the atrocities of the Pakistani troops.
'I recall with highest gratitude her strong support for the independence of Bangladesh . . . By honouring Srimati Indira Gandhi for her noble contribution to our freedom, we honour ourselves and revisit the epic of our Liberation War,' the president said.
He said Indira Gandhi had inspired millions of Bangladeshis and Indians to fight against all oppression and injustice.
'Even after forty years, she remains a beacon of hope and strength to all of us who aspire to make Bangladesh a true Sonar Bangla, dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,' he said.
In response to the honour conferred upon her late mother-in-law, Sonia, who looked somewhat nostalgic, said, 'Memories and emotions flood my mind' as she joined the ceremony to receive the award.
'The honour is not hers (Indira) alone, but also India's,' said Sonia.
Sonia said she was humbled to accept the honour on behalf of Indira Gandhi 'with a very full heart as I know she (Indira) would have been overwhelmed by the high honour you have bestowed on her'.
She also paid rich tributes to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Sonia arrived in Dhaka on Sunday night on a 24-hour visit.
Speaking on the occasion, Sheikh Hasina paid homage to the Indian soldiers who had laid down their lives in Bangladesh's liberation war.
'I am personally grateful to the Indian government and Mrs Indira Gandhi for providing shelter to my sister Sheikh Rehana and my family after the assassination of my father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975 along with most of our family members,' Hasina said.
'That was really an invaluable support Mrs Gandhi had extended to us like a guardian in our time of distress,' Hasina said.
Hasina's daughter and autism expert Saima Wazed Hossain, foreign minister Dipu Moni, also the chairperson of national committee on conferring honour on friends of Bangladesh, also spoke on the occasion. State minister for liberation war affairs Tajul Islam gave the welcome speech.
Source : New Age
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