She handed over the “Friends of Liberation War Honour” award to Pierre Trudeau’s son and Canada’s incumbent Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after her bilateral talks with him at the Hyatt Regency Montreal on Friday.
The Bangladesh government awarded the honour to Pierre Trudeau for his outstanding support and contribution during the 1971 Liberation War.
Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and Bangladesh High Commissioner in Ottawa Mizanur Rahman were present on the occasion.
Pierre TrudeauBriefing reporters after the event, Foreign Secretary Shahidul Huq said while handing over the award, the premier 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 international level and Canada was one of the first countries to recognise Bangladesh immediately after its independence,” she said.
The Bangladesh premier said that he had openly supported Bangladesh’s membership in the United Nations and the Commonwealth.
The foreign secretary said handing over the award to Justin Trudeau was a mix of two things as they both are the “second generation” prime ministers. “The award was handed over through reminiscing of the relations between the fathers of two leaders,” the foreign secretary said.
The premier said: “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.”
Hasina hoped that the existing friendly relations between Bangladesh and Canada would continue to grow in the days
to come.