Dhaka to honour Vajpayee for Liberation War role

Bangladesh will honour former Indian prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for his contribution to the 1971 Liberation War which led to its independence.

The ceremony will be held when the present premier, Narendra Modi, pays a state visit next month.

A highly placed source told The Daily Star yesterday that an inter-ministerial meeting would be held tomorrow to finalise the award category.

Bangladesh introduced two award categories -- "Bangladesh Liberation War Honour" and "Friends of Liberation War Honour" and so far awarded several hundred foreigners.

Former premier Indira Gandhi was awarded on July 25, 2012 and President Pranab Mukherjee on March 5, 2013.