Former PM Indira Gandhi honoured with Bangladesh's highest award

DHAKA: Bangladesh on Monday conferred its highest state award posthumously on former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for her outstanding contribution to the country's 1971 ' Liberation War'.

Congress Party president Sonia Gandhi, the daughter -in-law of the assassinated prime minister, received the "Bangladesh Swadhinata Sanmanona" from President Zillur Rahman at a grand ceremony attended by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and nearly 1,000 top dignitaries.

"By her (Indira Gandhi) political wisdom and vision, she influenced the course of history and the fate of generations," Rahman said while handing over the posthumous award.

"I recall with highest gratitude her strong support for the independence of Bangladesh... by honoring Srimati Indira Gandhi for her noble contribution for our freedom, we honor ourselves and revisit the epic of our war of liberation," he said.

The crest weighing three kilograms is designed on 400-year-old terracotta of a 'Kadam tree' made of gold.

Sonia, who arrived here yesterday on a 24-hour visit, said the award bestowed on the former Indian premier was an honour for India too.

"The honour is not hers (Indira Gandhi) alone, it's India's," Sonia said receiving the award.