Syed Muazzem Ali awarded Padma Bhushan posthumously, Padma Shri for Enamul Haque

Two eminent Bangladeshis -- career diplomat Syed Muazzem Ali (posthumously) and scholar Dr Enamul Haque -- were today honoured by Indian President Ram Nath Kovind with one of India's highest civilian awards in New Delhi today.

The Indian president awarded Padma Bhushan to former high commissioner to India Syed Muazzem Ali posthumously for Public Affairs.

Syed Muazzem Ali's wife Tufa Zaman Ali received the award from the Indian president at a civil investiture ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi this morning, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

A member of Bangladesh Foreign Service, Syed Muazzem Ali was associated with starting energy cooperation and land connectivity between Bangladesh and India, the Padma Bhushan citation said.

Kovind also presented Padma Shri to Enamul Haque, founder director general of National Museum and a multinational creative person, for Archaeology.

Haque is a distinguished archeologist and a highly respected cultural activist in Bangladesh, the official citation of Padma Shri said.

Muazzem Ali and Enamul Hoque 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 investiture ceremony were India's Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Home Minister Amit Shah.

Muazzem Ali, who was the 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.

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