Bangladesh Confers Liberation War Award on Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Former Indian prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was on Sunday conferred the Bangladesh Liberation War award for his contribution to the South Asian nation's fight for liberation from Pakistan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Bangladesh, received the award on behalf of Vajpayee from President Mohammad Abdul Hamid at a function in Dhaka.

"An inspiration for so many people like me, Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee is being honoured by Bangladesh," Modi said in a speech on the occasion.

"If Atalji's health permitted and he was present here, this occasion would be very different," Modi said.

"Every Indian wanted the dream of an independent Bangladesh to be realised," he added.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina highlighted Vajpayee's contribution to her country's Liberation War.

"As a politician, Shri Vajpayee's unstinting support to Bangladesh played an important role in mobilising support for our cause," she said.

Modi visits Dhakeshwari temple, Indian chancery in Dhaka
Earlier in the day, Modi visited the Dhakeshwari temple in Dhaka and offered prayers. He also inaugurated the new Indian high commission chancery complex at Baridhara where he inaugurated six projects undertaken with grant-in-aid from India.

"Reaching out to Bangladesh directly. PM inaugurated 6 projects undertaken with grant in aid & interacts w/ beneficiaries," Vikas Swarup, spokesperson of the ministry of external affairs, tweeted.

The six projects are: the India-Bangladesh Maitri Girls Hostel, Victoria College, Narail; construction of third floor of Blind Education & Rehabilitation Development Organisation, Mirpur, Dhaka; sewage treatment plant and waste water treatment plant, Kumudini Hospital, Mirzapur, Tangail; establishment of Hindi Department, Institute of Modern Languages, University of Dhaka; recording studio, Music Department, University of Dhaka and Assistance to Department of Dance, University of Dhaka.

In the morning,Modi visited the Dhakeshwari temple at Lalbagh in the capital.

"An early morning temple visit. PM @narendramodi worships at the Sree Sree Dhakeshwari Temple in Dhaka," Swarup tweeted.The 800-year-old Sri Dhakeshwari National Temple is state-owned, giving it the distinction of being Bangladesh's "national temple".

After offering prayers at the temple, Modi met members of the temple committee and other senior members at the temple. Modi was offered a memento by the temple authorities. In June 2014, when Indian External Affaris Minister Sushma Swaraj visited Dhaka, she had also visited the 12th century temple.The Dhakeshwari temple was built by the Sena dynasty king Ballal Sen. The city of Dhaka derives its name from Dhakeshwari, which means goddess of Dhaka.

Modi then visited the Ramkrishna Mission at Gopibagh and was greeted by the monks at the temple. He spoke to the senior monks and posed for pictures with the saffron-robed monks of the Ramakrishna order.

"Paying my respects to Ramakrishna Paramhansa at Dhaka's Ramakrishna Mission," Modi tweeted.

"Last month in Kolkata. This month in Dhaka. PM visits Ramakrishna Mission in Bangladesh," tweeted Swarup.

The Dhaka Ramakrishna Mission Math is a branch of the Belur Math, which Modi visited last month when he was in Kolkata. Modi then left to visit the the newly-constructed Indian high commission's chancery at Baridhara.