Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)– Bangladesh Bank (BB) Governor Atiur Rahman on Monday received the prestigious Indira Gandhi Gold Plaque 2011 in Kolkata in recognition of his significant contributions to international cooperation towards human progress.
The award distribution ceremony was held at the Vidyasagar Hall of Asiatic Society, Kolkata in the evening, a BB press statement said.
West Bengal Human Rights Commission Chairperson Justice Asok Kumar Ganguly presented the award to Dr Atiur. 
Asiatic Society president Professor Pallab Sengupta and general secretary Prof Mihir Kumar Chakrabarti were also present at the function. 
Expressing his reaction on receiving the award, Atiur said, “It’s a deeply moving experience to see my name added to the elite company of the very distinguished luminaries awarded with this Gold Plaque in the preceding years.” He also paid rich tributes to the soul of Indira Gandhi.  
Earlier, on March 15, the Asiatic Society of India selected Atiur Rahman for the Indira Gandhi Gold Plaque 2011. The award was introduced in 1985.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina received the Indira Gandhi Gold Plaque in 2009.
The past awardees include ex-Swedish premier Olof Palme (1985), Dr. D.S. Kothari (1986), Nobel Laureates Mother Teresa (1987),  ex – Secretary General of the United Nations Dr. Javier Perez de Cuellar (1988), Dr. Nelson Mandela (1989), Rev Desmond Tutu (1990), Dr. Karan Sing (1991), Smt. Aruna Asaf Ali (1992), Yasser Arafat (1993), Professor Amartya Sen (1994), Aung San Suu Kyi (1995), Shri K. R. Narayan (1996), Dr. Ali Akbar Khan (1997), Dr. Gabriel Garcia Marquez (1998), Gunter Grass (1999), Cuban revolutionary Dr. Fidel Castro (2000), musician and composer Pandit Ravi Shankar (2001), Father of the Green Revolution M.S. Swaminathan (2002), shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan (2003), sculptor Somnath Hore (2004), Shri K. R. Narayan (2005), Professor of Buddhist and Tibetan Studies Dr. Ernst Steinkellner (2006), painter and writer Sri. Dinkar Kowshik (2007), Indian Finance Minister Sri. Pranab Mukherjee (2008) and Professor Obaid Siddiqi (2010).
The central bank chief is expected to return home on May 9.
 
BBN/SSR/AD-08May12-10:10 am (BST)