Latest news - Indira Gandhi to be bestowed highest state honour by Bangladesh

Latest news - Indira Gandhi to be bestowed highest state honour by Bangladesh

The Bangladesh government has decided to confer “Bangladesh Swadhinata Sammanona” upon former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi posthumously for her outstanding contribution to the country's Liberation War in 1971. Indira Gandhi will be the first ever foreigner to be given the highest state honour of Bangladesh.
The decision to award the highest state honour was taken in the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh
Bestowal of the highest state award on the former Indian Prime Minister is in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the country's war of liberation in 1971. Indira Gandhi had thrown the full weight of the Indian government behind the Bangladesh war.
It is recognized by that country that East Pakistan, as Bangladesh was then known, would have never secured freedom from Pakistan had the then Prime Minister of India not lent full support - by way of men and material - on humanitarian grounds. It was a bold step executed with perfect precision for which Indira Gandhi was well known.
Bangladesh government is grateful to India for its timely help. For her most valuable and timely help to that country, the Indian Iron Lady has earned the highest state of Bangladesh.
Pakistan was determined to crush the Bangla movement for independence. The leaders of the movement were trust into jails. All political activity was banned. Martial law was declared to silence the voices of freedom. Those who protested were eliminated. Millions of people perished in the conflict that ensued. The people of Bangladesh were so terrified that millions of them fled and crossed over to India.
The Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi will visit Bangladesh on July 25 to receive the award at the invitation of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
President Zillur Rahman will formally hand over the honour to Indian Congress party President Sonia Gandhi, also daughter-in-law of Indira Gandhi, at Bangabhaban on July 25.
The two other state honours--Bangladesh Muktijuddho Sammanona and Muktijuddho Moitree Sammanona--would be given to 47 people and five organisations for their meritorious contributions to the Liberation War of Bangladesh.
That country has also decided to honour about 500 foreign nationals, who contributed to the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi will discuss bilateral relations with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during a visit to Dhaka July 25. Her visit will be a positive step to strengthen the bilateral relations between the two neighboring countries.
Her visit will be followed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Bangladesh is for two days on September 6-7.
The Prime Minister’s visit which will be the first in twelve years by an Indian Prime Minister during which several important accords, especially on Indo-Bangla border demarcation and other issues are expected to be signed.