ID :
99774
Wed, 01/13/2010 - 09:16
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/99774
The shortlink copeid
Hasina honoured with Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace
New Delhi, Jan 12 (PTI) The coveted Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development was on Tuesday bestowed on Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who said India and Bangladesh should work together to achieve peace and progress in
South Asia.
"We want to have good and friendly relations with all our
neighbours. We must work for a South Asia where peace, harmony and progress
will prevail. Till we achieve this, our struggle will continue," she said
after accepting the prestigious award from Indian President Pratibha Patil.
Recalling her association with Indira Gandhi, an emotional Hasina referred
to the gruesome assassination of her father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman, and 18 other family members and said, "We had nowhere to go at that
time. Our government then did not allow us to return to our homeland." "It
was Indira Gandhi who gave us shelter. We took political asylum and stayed
in Delhi for six years," she said, adding that Indira Gandhi was "truly like
our mother". Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Bangladesh's voice
was on Tuesday heard with respect in the international fora and India was
honouring "not only a great daughter of Bangladesh but a distinguished world
leader." United Progressive Alliance (UPA)'Chairperson Sonia Gandhi said a
peaceful, secular and democratic Bangladesh was India's "wish and hope and
we have no doubt that under your (Hasina) leadership it will be realised."
The award carries a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh and a citation.
"It is really a great honour to get the award
instituted in the name of a great leader. I do not know
whether I am worthy of this," the 62-year-old Hasina told the
gathering at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of the
Indian President, which included several Indian ministers,
diplomats and MPs including Rahul Gandhi.
Hasina, who was given the 2009 award for her
"outstanding contribution to the promotion of democracy and
pluralism", said India and Bangladesh were neighbours
committed to peace as was conceived by Indira Gandhi.
While India succeeded largely due to the strength of
democracy nurtured by great visionary leaders, Bangladesh's
progress was "frustrated by frequent intervention of
undemocratic forces," the Bangladesh premier said.
She said she was determined to "free my people from
the shackles of poverty and my country from the scourge of
terrorism. I also consider it my duty to uphold human rights
and the rule of law."
Giving away the award, the President said both India
and Bangladesh were committed to strengthening bilateral
relations and determined to forge stronger bonds of
cooperation and trust.
"We seek to forge greater trade, investment and
cultural exchanges. We also face common challenges which
require close cooperation with each other," Patil said, adding
that Hasina had left "an indelible imprint on her country's
growth and development." PTI MS
MYR
South Asia.
"We want to have good and friendly relations with all our
neighbours. We must work for a South Asia where peace, harmony and progress
will prevail. Till we achieve this, our struggle will continue," she said
after accepting the prestigious award from Indian President Pratibha Patil.
Recalling her association with Indira Gandhi, an emotional Hasina referred
to the gruesome assassination of her father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman, and 18 other family members and said, "We had nowhere to go at that
time. Our government then did not allow us to return to our homeland." "It
was Indira Gandhi who gave us shelter. We took political asylum and stayed
in Delhi for six years," she said, adding that Indira Gandhi was "truly like
our mother". Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Bangladesh's voice
was on Tuesday heard with respect in the international fora and India was
honouring "not only a great daughter of Bangladesh but a distinguished world
leader." United Progressive Alliance (UPA)'Chairperson Sonia Gandhi said a
peaceful, secular and democratic Bangladesh was India's "wish and hope and
we have no doubt that under your (Hasina) leadership it will be realised."
The award carries a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh and a citation.
"It is really a great honour to get the award
instituted in the name of a great leader. I do not know
whether I am worthy of this," the 62-year-old Hasina told the
gathering at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of the
Indian President, which included several Indian ministers,
diplomats and MPs including Rahul Gandhi.
Hasina, who was given the 2009 award for her
"outstanding contribution to the promotion of democracy and
pluralism", said India and Bangladesh were neighbours
committed to peace as was conceived by Indira Gandhi.
While India succeeded largely due to the strength of
democracy nurtured by great visionary leaders, Bangladesh's
progress was "frustrated by frequent intervention of
undemocratic forces," the Bangladesh premier said.
She said she was determined to "free my people from
the shackles of poverty and my country from the scourge of
terrorism. I also consider it my duty to uphold human rights
and the rule of law."
Giving away the award, the President said both India
and Bangladesh were committed to strengthening bilateral
relations and determined to forge stronger bonds of
cooperation and trust.
"We seek to forge greater trade, investment and
cultural exchanges. We also face common challenges which
require close cooperation with each other," Patil said, adding
that Hasina had left "an indelible imprint on her country's
growth and development." PTI MS
MYR
