Awami League lawmaker and former Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) president Saber Hossain Chowdhury has been honoured with ‘Friendship Order’, a service award of the government of Vietnam, reports UNB. Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, the chairperson of the National Assembly of Vietnam, handed over the medal to Saber Hossain at the Assembly on Friday, said a PID handout on Monday.

Former chairpers on of the National Assembly of Vietnam Nguyễn Sinh Hung was also present on the occasion. Saber Chowdhury was honoured with the award for playing a vital role in socio-economic development of Vietnam through the IPU during his tenure, the handout added. The current president of the IPU is Mexican Senator Gabriela Cuevas Barron who was elected in October 2017.  Saber Hossain Chowdhury is the first Bangladeshi national who received the award.

The ‘Friendship Order’ award is conferred by the government of Vietnam on foreigners who make great contributions towards building, consolidating and developing the friendship between Vietnam and other countries in the world.