Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is sending a senior leader of her party Awami League to represent her at the funeral of former Prime Minister I K Gujral here tomorrow. Kazi Zafarullah, a member of Awami League Presidium, the top policy-making forum of the party, will represent Hasina and the party at the funeral. Besides, Bangladesh’s visiting Liberation War Affairs Minister Tajul Islam, who went to Kolkata today, has been asked to return to New Delhi to join Gujral’s funeral. Hasina condoled the death of Gujral and recalled his contribution to Bangladesh’s liberation war. Gujral was one of the more than 100 “Friends of Bangladesh” from across the world who were honoured by Bangladesh. However, Gujral could not receive the honour at a function in Dhaka nor could it be handed over to him in Delhi due to his illness. Gujral is respected in Bangladesh for championing India’s deep political and economic engagement with its neighbouring countries which had become popular as “Gujral doctrine”. PTI
