Sheikh Hasina chosen for Indira Gandhi Peace Prize

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been chosen for the prestigious Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development this year for her “outstanding contribution to the promotion of democracy and pluralism”.

This was decided by an international jury chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday, the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust said.

62-year-old Hasina has been chosen for her “outstanding contribution to the promotion of democracy and pluralism, her determined drive to alleviate poverty and secure social and economic justice for her people through inclusive and sustainable development and her consistent commitment to peace”, it said.

After her re-election in December last year, Hasina embarked on her “Vision 2021″, aimed at transforming Bangladesh into a middle-income country by 2021, by eliminating poverty and inequity, the Trust said.

As Prime Minister of Bangladesh from 1996 to 2001, she had launched a number of programmes to meet the basic needs of the poor and vulnerable sections of the population, through projects covering employment-generation, housing, health and

food security, it said.

The award, which carries a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh and a citation, would be presented to her at a function to be held at a later date.

Hasina “promoted peace by resolving a long standing insurgency (problem) in Bangladesh by concluding the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord. Her global commitment to peace was manifested by her initiative that resulted in the adoption of the first-ever Resolution of the United Nations General Assembly on the Culture and Peace”, the Trust said.

The assassination of her father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rehman and other members of her family in 1975 transformed her life and, indeed, “the political landscape of Bangladesh”, it said.

“A number of attempts on her life and subsequent imprisonment only strengthened her resolve to restore democracy, peace and political stability in her country,” it said.

RELATED STORIES

• No Related Post

LATEST NEWS HEADLINES

• Liberal tech transfer, nuke cooperation on PM agenda in US
• India, China ‘very important’ global players: US
• 11 dead, 118 trapped in China mine explosion
• Shiv Kapur leapfrogs to 2nd spot in Cambodian Open
• No ‘final answer’ from Iran on nuclear offer: IAEA chief

ALSO IN THE NEWS

US issues travel advisory on Nepal

Expressing concerns over the prevailing security situation in Nepal, the US has asked its nationals to be cautious while travelling to that country. “The Department of State warns US citizens of the risks of travelling to Nepal, and urges caution when travelling in that country,” the State Department said in its travel advisory issued on [...]

MORE STORIES

Krishna enquires Mumbai attack progress with Qureshi

• Mamata to take up with PC issue of Naxal attacks on trains
• Union Comm Min will not force SEZs in Goa: Kamat
• China reaffirm Asian supremacy in TT, defend both team titles
• Cross recognized cross-border fertilization in Pak dangerous
• World powers weigh new sanctions for Iran
• Parliament adjourned till 12 noon on sugarcane pricing issue

HAVE YOUR SAY

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, dolor sit ipsum.

SELECTABLE PROMOTIONAL BLOCK

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, dolor sit ipsum.

MORE NEWS HEADLINES

• Pakistan has nothing to fear from India: Manmohan Singh
• Sheikh Hasina chosen for Indira Gandhi Peace Prize
• Somdev opts out of US Challenger event
• Oil prices up in Asian trade but still below USD 78
• More pulses, vegetable and less oil in mid-day meal from now
• Sensex down 118 points in opening trade on global cues