Montreal: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday conferred ‘Bangladesh Liberation War Honour’ award posthumously on former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau.
Bangladesh government awarded the honour to Pierre Trudeau for his outstanding support for and contributions to the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971.

Sheikh Hasina handed over the ‘Friends of Liberation War Honour’ award to Pierre Trudeau’s son Canada’s incumbent Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, reports UNB.

The handover ceremony was held after her bilateral talks with the Canadian Prime Minister at Hyatt Regency Montreal.

Briefing reporters, Foreign Secretary Shahidul Huq said Sheikh Hasina, while handing over the award, mentioned that Trudeau was one of the few international leaders who stood firm beside the people of Bangladesh in its struggle for independence.

‘Pierre Trudeau spoke in favour of Bangladesh’s Liberation War at the international level, while Canada was one of the first countries to recognise Bangladesh immediately after its independence,’ Shahidul quoted the Prime Minister as saying.

Sheikh Hasina also mentioned that Trudeau openly supported Bangladesh’s membership in the United Nations and the Commonwealth.

The foreign secretary said handing over the award to Pierre Trudeau’s son Canada’s incumbent PM Justin Trudeau was a mix of two things as Sheikh Hasina and Justin Trudeau both are the ‘second generation’ prime ministers.

‘The award was handed over through reminiscing the relations between the fathers of two leaders,’ the foreign secretary said.

The Prime Minister expressed her gratitude to Justin Trudeau for receiving the award on behalf of the family. ‘I wish prosperity and happiness of the friendly people of Canada and good health, long life and happiness of his Excellency Justin Trudeau and his family members,’ she said.

Sheikh Hasina hoped that the existing friendly relations between Bangladesh and Canada would continue to grow in the days to come.

Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque and Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and Bangladesh High Commissioner in Ottawa Mizanur Rahman were present on the occasion.