India honored two Bangladeshis, including one posthumously, at its national awards presentation by President Ramnath Kovind. Bangladesh's former envoy to India, late Syed Muazzem Ali, and eminent archaeologist, Prof Enamul Haque were conferred with the coveted Padma awards for their exceptional and distinguished services in respective fields.

Syed Muazzem Ali, a freedom fighter and a former high commissioner of Bangladesh to India, was posthumously conferred the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award in India for public affairs while Prof. Enamul Haque got the Padma Shri award for archaeology.

Tuhfa Zaman Ali, the wife of Syed Muazzem Ali, received the award while Prof Haque received the award in person at a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential mansion, in Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, among others, were present at the event.

"President Kovind presents the Padma Bhushan to Syed Muazzem Ali (Posthumously) for Public Affairs," the President of India tweeted.

It added: "A career diplomat and member of Bangladesh foreign service, Syed Muazzem Ali was associated with starting energy cooperation and land connectivity between Bangladesh and India".

Muazzem Ali passed away on December 30, 2019 in Dhaka soon after completing his five-year-long tenure as the Bangladesh high commissioner to India.

He rebelled against the Pakistani government and declared his allegiance to Bangladesh in 1971, while serving in the Pakistan Embassy there. He also served as the Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh.

In another tweet, the President's office said: "President Kovind presents Padma Shri to Prof. Enamul Haque for Archaeology. He is a distinguished archaeologist and a highly respected cultural activist in Bangladesh".

Born in 1936, Enamul Haque has taught at many universities including Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University, and Brac University. Haque was the founder-director general of the Bangladesh National Museum.