Prime Minister hands over "Friends of Bangladesh" medal to Ted Kennedy Jr

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday handed over the "Friends of Bangladesh" medal to Ted Kennedy Jr in memory of his father late US Senator Edward M Kennedy Sr's contribution to Bangladesh's Liberation War.

"The premier conferred him with the award at a dinner hosted in honour of Ted Kennedy Jr and his family members at a city hotel this evening," PM's Deputy Press Secretary KM Shakhawat Moon said.

Earlier on Sunday morning, Kennedy Jr, his spouse Katherine Kennedy, daughter Kiley Kennedy and son Teddy Kennedy paid a courtesy call on the prime minister at her official Ganabhan residence here.

During the meeting, the prime minister expressed her gratitude for the outstanding contribution of late US Senator Edward M Kennedy to support the then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) during the Lberation War, although the then Nixon administration favoured Pakistan.

She also recalled the visit of Kennedy Sr to Bangladesh in February, 1972 and said that he also raised his voice and drummed up public opinions in the USA in support to Bangladesh's Liberation War.

Ted Kennedy Jr, a former member of Connecticut State Senate, is now on seven-day visit to Bangladesh from October 29-November 5 to join the yearlong celebration of the 50th anniversary of US-Bangladesh relations.