Bangladesh on Monday conferred the highest state honour for "1971 foreign friends" on India's assassinated Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for her tremendous contribution to its Liberation War 40 years ago. Daughter-in-law of Mrs. Gandhi and Indian Congress party and ruling UPI chair Sonia Gandhi received the Bangladesh Swadhinata Sanmanona (Freedom Honour) from President Zillur Rahman at a ceremony at Bangabhaban, also joined by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and nearly 1,000 high profile dignitaries. So far Gandhi is the lone recipient of the honour though the cabinet last week also decided to acknowledge the contribution of 47 other foreign friends and five international organization to the country's 1971 independence but they would be given the awards under two other categories. "By her (Indira Gandhi) political wisdom and vision, she influenced the course of history and the fate of generations," President Zillur said handing over the posthumous award in the form of a crest to her daughter-in-law. The crest weighing three kilograms is designed on 400-year- old terracotta of a 'Kadam tree' made of gold, which was handed over to Gandhi as Cabinet Secretary Abdul Aziz read out the citation recalling Gandhi's role in 1971. "The honour is not hers (Indira) alone, but also India's," said Sonia Gandhi receiving the crest on behalf of her assassinated mother in law. Gandhi said she was humbled to accept the honour on behalf of Indira Gandhi "with a very full heart as I know she (Indira) would have been overwhelmed by the high honour you have bestowed on her". Indira Gandhi was India's premier in 1971 when she traveled across the world to mobilise support for Bangladesh's Liberation War against Pakistan while Bangladeshi freedom fighters also received training on Indian soil alongside small weapons to fight back the occupation forces. Her government provided food and makeshift shelter to an estimated one crore or 10 million people who fled their home to evade atrocities by the Pakistani troops. "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," the President said. He said Indira Gandhi had inspired millions of Bangladeshis and Indians to fight against all oppression and injustices. "Even after forty years, she remains as a beckon of hope and strength to all of us who aspire to make Bangladesh a true Sonar Bangka, dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman," the President said. Ahead of the ceremony Gandhi had a 25-minute call on the President at the VIP Lounge while the Prime Minister joined them at the hallway of the Presidential palace which was decorated with rare pictures of late Gandhi, Bangabandhu and her photographs with Bangabandhu family when she visited Bangladesh in 1972, months after its independence. The three were then ceremonially escorted to the Darbar Hall of the Presidential palace where dignitaries waited to witness the nearly one hour ceremony that began with Bangladesh's national anthem. In response to the honour conferred upon her late mother-in-law, Gandhi in a visibly nostalgic tone said "memories and emotions flood mind" as she joined the ceremony to receive the award. She also paid rich tributes to her mother-in-law as well as Bangladesh's Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Speaking on the occasion, Sheikh Hasina paid deep homage to Indian soldiers of Bangladesh-India Friendship Forces as well as Indira Gandhi for their sacrifices for Bangladesh's liberation. "I am personally grateful to the Indian government and Mrs. Indira Gandhi for providing shelter to my sister Sheikh Rehana and my family after the brutal assassination of my father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975 along with most of our family members," Hasina said. She added: "That was really an invaluable support of Mrs. Gandhi like a guardian extended to us during our time of distress". The dignitaries witnessed a video documentary with rare footages of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Indira Gandhi at the end of which Sonia Gandhi was handed over the crest. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's daughter and internationally reputed autism expert Saima Hossain, Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni who is also the chairperson of national committee on conferring honour on friends of Bangladesh who had major contribution to Bangladesh War of Liberation' spoke on the occasion while State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Capt (retd) A B Tajul Islam gave the welcome speech. Apart from the highest state honour to the late Indian premier the government has also decided to acknowledge the contribution of 47 other foreign friends and five international organization to the country's War of Liberation in 1971, but they would be given awards under two other categories to be called "Muktijuddho Sanmanona" and "Muktijuddho Maitree Sanmanona.
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