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India Monday conferred the coveted Padma awards on two eminent Bangladeshis -- former career diplomat Syed Muazzem Ali and scholar Dr Enamul Haque.
Muazzem Ali, a former High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India, was given Padma Bhushan for Public Affairs posthumously by Indian President Ram Nath Kovind at a ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi, and his wife Tufa Zaman collected it on his behalf.
Muazzem Ali was associated with starting energy cooperation and land connectivity between Bangladesh and India, according to the Padma Bhushan citation.
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President Kovind also presented Padma Shri for Archaeology to Dr Enamul Haque -- "a distinguished archeologist and a highly respected cultural activist in Bangladesh", as per the citation.
While Padma Shri is India's fourth-highest civilian award, Padma Bhushan is the third-highest civilian award. The Padma awards seek to recognise achievements in all fields of activities or disciplines where an element of public service is involved.
Monday's ceremony was attended by Indian Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
"Attended the Padma Awards ceremony earlier this evening. Congratulations to those who have been conferred the #PeoplesPadma," Modi tweeted, after the ceremony.
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More than 115 others, including former Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and former Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, also got the Padma awards at the ceremony, which was delayed this year due to Covid. Both the former Ministers were given the award posthumously.