B'desh to fête Indira Gandhi with highest state honour

Bangladesh will honour former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi with its highest state award for her outstanding contribution to the country's 1971 'Liberation War'. "The cabinet has decided to confer Mrs Indira Gandhi with our highest state honour, 'Bangladesh Swadhinata Sanmanona'. As of now she would be the lone recipient of the honour," said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's press secretary Abul Kalam Azad.

It decided to confer the highest state honour on the assassinated Indian prime minister for her "tremendous contribution" to the country's Liberation War.

"The daughter-in-law of Mrs Gandhi and Indian Congress Party president Sonia Gandhi will receive the award from President Zillur Rahman on July 25 at Bangabhaban presidential palace at a special ceremony," Azad said.

The Pakistan army conducted widespread atrocities against the civilian populations of East Pakistan, which later became Bangladesh. The late Indian premier traveled across the world to mobilise support for the people of East Pakistan amid a massive crackdown on civilians by the Pakistan Army.

According to official figures, Pakistani troops, aided by local collaborators, killed an estimated 3 million people, raped about 200,000 women and forced millions more to leave their homes during the bloody nine-month guerrilla war.

India had to face a huge refugee crisis as an estimated one crore people fled their homes to evade atrocities by the Pakistani troops. Earlier reports said that the government also plans to rechristen an important road in the memory of the former Indian prime minister.

A separate monument would also be built to honour Indian defence personnel martyred in the 1971 war. Former Indian Foreign Minister Sardar Swaran Singh, who played a significant role, will be accorded special honour as well, according to sources.

Azad said the cabinet also decided to acknowledge the contribution of 47 other "foreign friends" and five international organisations to the country's independence movement. They would be conferred with awards under two categories, 'Muktijuddho Sanmanona' and 'Muktijuddho Maitree Sanmanona'. Hasina's press secretary did not name the recipients of the awards in second and third categories.

But officials familiar with the process said the list had distinguished foreigners, including former heads of states and governments and organisations such as the International Red Cross. They would be honoured on December 16, 2011, coinciding with the country's 40th Victory Day.

Congress party president Sonia Gandhi will visit Dhaka on July 25 at the invitation of Prime Minister Hasina to open an international autistic conference. "Sonia Gandhi wears many hats. She is a family member of Indira Gandhi, who was our great friend during our war for freedom, the president of the Congress and the chairperson of United Progressive Alliance. We are very much looking forward to the visit of Sonia Gandhi," Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni told reporters earlier this month.

On March 26, 1971, Bangladesh - then East Pakistan - declared its independence from West Pakistan. The Pakistan Army surrendered to the allied forces of the Indian army and the Mukti Bahini on 16 December 1971, which resulted in Bangladesh becoming an independent nation.