DHAKA: Former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi was honoured posthumously on Monday by Bangladesh for helping the country win independence in 1971.

Sonia Gandhi, Indira Gandhi’s daughter in-law and the head of the ruling Congress party, accepted the Bangladesh Freedom Honour from President Zillur Rahman at a reception in Dhaka.

“If Indira Gandhi could have been with us now, I know she would have been overwhelmed by the high honour you have bestowed on her,” Sonia Gandhi said in her acceptance speech. The award recognises Indira Gandhi’s “direct support, cooperation, her strong role and unique contribution to Bangladesh’s independence”, said cabinet secretary Abdul Aziz.

Under Indira Gandhi’s leadership India sheltered 10 million Bangladeshi war refugees, lobbied for Bangladesh internationally, secured the release of Sheikh Mujib from a Pakistani jail and finally “risked a war to hasten Bangladesh’s freedom”, he added.—AFP