Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri: Awards handed over to 2 noted Bangladeshis

Two Bangladeshis -- career diplomat Syed Muazzem Ali and scholar Dr Enamul Haque -- were yesterday honoured by Indian President Ram Nath Kovind with two highest civilian awards of India.  

Enamul Haque, founder director general of Bangladesh National Museum, receives the Padma Shri award from Indian President Ram Nath Kovind at a function at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi yesterday. Photo: Collected

Kovind awarded Padma Bhushan to Muazzem, a former high commissioner to India, in the public affairs category (posthumously). Muazzem's wife Tufah Zaman Ali received the award from the Indian president during a ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

A member of Bangladesh foreign service, Muazzem was associated with the initiation of energy cooperation and land connectivity between Bangladesh and India, the Padma Bhushan citation said.

Kovind also presented Padma Shri to Enamul, founder director general of Bangladesh National Museum.

Enamul "is a distinguished archaeologist and a highly respected cultural activist in Bangladesh," the official citation of Padma Shri said.

Muazzem and Enamul were chosen for the honours for the year 2020, but the presentation of the awards, which are usually held in March-April, was delayed due to a severe second wave of Covid-19 pandemic this year.

Among the dignitaries present at the ceremony were India's Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

Muazzem, who was an envoy to India for five years, had worked hard to bring about greater political, economic, and security cooperation between the two countries. He died on December 30, 2019, about two weeks after returning to Bangladesh on completion of his diplomatic assignment in New Delhi.

He was among eight people who were presented with Padma Bhushan. Four persons were awarded Padma Vibhushan and 61 got Padma Shri Award for the year 2020.

Muazzem and Enamul were honoured in a year when India and Bangladesh are celebrating the golden jubilee of Bangladesh's liberation and the 50th year of diplomatic ties with India as well as the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.