Modi receives Award of Liberation War honour for Vajpayee

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has received the Award of Liberation War Honour in Bangladesh on behalf of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. President Md Abdul Hamid handed the award over to Modi at Bangabhaban in Dhaka on Sunday. Vajpayee played an active role as the chief of Bharatiya Jana Sangha in Bangladesh’s Liberation War against Pakistan in 1971. In an editorial published in the ‘Organiser’, he had welcomed the proclamation of Bangladesh’s independence by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He had urged the Indian government to acknowledge the then Bangladesh government and help the freedom fighters. BJS staged a mass Styagraha from August 1 to 11 and demonstrated in front of the Indian Parliament on August 12, demanding government’s support for Bangladesh’s independence. The citation for Vajpayee said the people of Bangladesh will never forget his role in Bangladesh’s independence and India-Bangladesh relationship. During the award ceremony, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said ‘it would be great to have Vajpayee in our midst’. She also took the opportunity to describe Modi as ‘Vajpayee’s able successor and a great friend of Bangladesh as Vajpayee.’
“In 1971, when the entire Bangladesh, under the leadership of Bangabandhu, waged the War of Liberation against the occupation forces, we were fortunate to have India beside us. The whole of Indian nation stood by their brothers and sisters across the border. As a politician, Shri Vajpayee’s unstinting support to Bangladesh played an important role in mobilising support for our cause in the Indian political circuit.” Modi said it was a moment of fortune for him and the people of India to receive the award on behalf of Vajpayee, who is an inspiration to him. President Hamid’s Military Secretary Major General Abul Hossain and Secretary to the President’s Office Bhuiyan Shafiqul Islam welcomed him at the porch of the president’s house at 12:40pm on Sunday. President Hamid greeted Modi with flowers. They had a meeting in the Credential Hall later. Hasina entered the Bangabhaban afterwards. After the Awami League-led coalition had assumed power, it decided to honour Bangladesh’s foreign friends for their contribution in the Liberation War, according to bdnews24.com.