Dhaka: Bangladesh's cabinet decided on Tuesday to confer the highest state honour on India's former prime minister Indira Gandhi for her "tremendous contribution" to its Liberation War 40 years ago.
"The cabinet has decided to confer Mrs Indira Gandhi with our highest state honour, Bangladesh Swadhinata Sanmanona… so far she would be the lone recipient of the honour," Prime Minister Shaikh Hasina's press secretary Abul Kalam Azad told Gulf News.
He said the cabinet also decided to acknowledge the contribution of 47 other foreign friends and five international organisations to the country's 1971 independence but they would be conferred with awards under two other categories to be called Muktijuddho Sanmanona and Muktijuddho Maitree Sanmanona.
"The daughter-in-law of Mrs Gandhi and Indian Congress party chair Sonia Gandhi will receive the award from President Zillur Rahman on July 25 at Bangabhaban presidential palace at a special ceremony," Azad said.
Gandhi was India's premier in 1971 when she travelled across the world to mobilise support for Bangladesh's Liberation War against Pakistan. Her government provided food and shelter to millions of people who fled their homes.
