Best friend honored

 "Bangladesh Freedom Honor''

Bangladesh's Liberation War in 1971. "Bangladesh Freedom Honour" that’s Former Indian premier Indira Gandhi was yesterday conferred.

Her daughter-in-law also president of India's ruling Congress party, Sonia Gandhi, received the posthumous award from Bangladesh President Zillur Rahman on behalf of Indira Gandhi at a ceremony in Bangabhaban.

Indira Gandhi is the first among the foreign friends of Bangladesh to be conferred the highest state honour.

Her heartfelt thanks for the honour, Sonia recalled the tumultuous days of 1971 when her mother-in-law took a firm stance to side with the Bangalee people fighting to establish their own country.

"There can be no honour higher than the one conferred for the freedom of an oppressed people and the birth of a great nation," she said.

She said she came to Bangladesh not just to visit another country.

"Memories and emotions flood my mind. My husband and I were present at the airport along with Indira Ji amid massive crowds on the historic morning on January 10, 1972, when Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was welcomed in Delhi on his way to his newly free country," recalled Sonia.

"On Bangabandhu's request, she withdrew the Indian soldiers within three months of Bangladesh's independence. That was a unique gesture of Mrs Indira Gandhi," PM Hasina said.

Indira Gandhi during Bangladesh's struggle for liberation. Both Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Sonia Gandhi saw the pictures with curiosity.

Special guests Sonia the ‘Bangladesh Freedom Honour’

Sonia Gandhi, arrived in Dhaka

The National Congress president of Indian, Sonia Gandhi, arrived in Dhaka on Sunday evening on a 24-hour tour.

 ‘Bangladesh Freedom Honors’ receive to be conferred posthumously on her mother-in-law and former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi by the Bangladesh government.

The speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan, Fehmida Mirza, Sri Lankan first lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa and Maldives second lady Ilham Hussain, wife of the vice-president of the country, also arrived in Dhaka on the day to attend the conference. The government is giving them VVIP protocol and security.

Sonia is visiting Dhaka on an invitation from prime minister Sheikh Hasina, arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by an Indian Air Force flight at about 8:45pm.Foreign minister Dipu Moni, lead by received them at the airport.

Sonia will address the conference as the chief guest while Sheikh Hasina and three other VVIP visitors as special guests.

At a function at the Bangabhaban at about 5:30pm, president Zillur Rahman will hand over to Sonia the ‘Bangladesh Freedom Honour’ to be conferred on Indira Gandhi posthumously for her  unique contribution to Bangladesh’s War of Liberation in 1971.

State-run Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar would air live the programme jointly organised by the ministries of foreign affairs and Liberation War affairs and the Cabinet Division.

Sonia is scheduled to leave Dhaka by a special flight at about 9:00pm today. Other visiting VVIPs are scheduled to leave Dhaka on Tuesday and Wednesday.  

The Centre for Neurodevelopment and Autism in Children of BSMMU and US-based Autism Speaks will jointly organise the conference. World Health Organisation is supporting the programme.

The main conference will be held on Monday and Tuesday and the post-conference training sessions and panel discussions on awareness and advocacy, education, services and research on autism spectrum disorders will take place at the BSMMU from Wednesday to Friday.

The government has issued top security alert, code named Grade-1, in the capital to ensure foolproof security for Sonia Gandhi and other VVIP guests.