Sonia Gandhi to visit Bangaldesh on Monday

New Delhi, Jul 23 (PTI)
Congress President Sonia Gandhi will visit Dhaka on Monday to receive an
award from Bangladesh government on behalf of Indira Gandhi for her
contributions to the 1971 liberation war (rpt), ahead of Indian Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh's trip in September. During her visit, Gandhi will
also participate in celebrations to mark 40 years of creation of Bangladesh.
Ravni Thakur, joint secretary in the foreign affairs department of Congress,
termed Gandhi's visit as a "wonderful idea" that will strengthen the
Indo-Bangladesh relations. "India has a special relationship with
Bangladesh and in particularly Gandhi family was very close to late Sheikh
Mujibur Rehman as also Sheikh Hasina Wajed. Gandhi is going there not only
as Congress President but also in the capacity of UPA Chairperson. This is
very welcome move," she said. Bangladesh is celebrating 40 years of
independence from Pakistan and late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's name
figures on top of the list of foreign dignitaries who contributed to the
liberation. Gandhi's visit comes ahead of Singh's visit to Bangladesh in
September. Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni had earlier this month
said that Gandhi will receive an award on behalf of her late mother-in-law
Indira Gandhi. Gandhi will be in Dhaka at the invitation of Bangladesh
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina primarily to attend a conference on autistic
children. Bangladeshi officials had said that their government was
set to name a major road in Dhaka after Indira Gandhi as part of an
initiative to honour 'foreign friends' who contributed to its independence.
The officials said Bangladesh has so far listed 500 "1971 foreign friends",
including 226 Indians and 40 Pakistanis. PTI ETB RCJ