Lions Clubs honours PM Hasina with Medal of Distinction

Lions Clubs International has decorated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with the “Medal of Distinction” in recognition of her service to the needy and distressed, particularly the forcibly displaced Rohingya people from Myanmar.

Visiting Lions Clubs International President Naresh Agarwal handed over the medal to the prime minister when he paid her a courtesy call at her official residence Ganabhaban on Wednesday, the prime minister’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim told reporters.

Agarwal strongly praised Sheikh Hasina for her humanitarian qualities, particularly for giving shelter to over a million Rohingya people in Bangladesh.

He said the international community had already recognized the prime minister as a “Mother of Humanity.”

In response, Hasina said it was her responsibility to serve the distressed group. "You (Lions) have been working to serve the common people. Similarly, we politicians are also working to ensure the basic needs of people," she said.

Agarwal said his organization would continue to extend their support to the distressed people in Bangladesh.

Appreciating Bangladesh's stunning development under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina, he said Bangladesh was now held in high esteem internationally in the wake of its recent development.

Former international director of Lions Club International Sheikh Kabir Hossain, former international director and goodwill ambassador of the club Moslem Ali Khan, incumbent International Director Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed, and Council Chairperson for Bangladesh Lion’s Club MK Bashar were present on the occasion.