Dhaka (PTI): Bangladesh has planned to reward foreign nationals and global institutions for their outstanding contributions in various fields like foreign aid, exports and 1971 war of independence, a media report said here on Sunday.

The foreign ministry has prepared a draft initially proposing World Bank and US senator Edward Kennedy for the "friends of Bangladesh awards", The New Age newspaper quoted officials as saying.

"The chief adviser office asked the foreign ministry to go ahead with the plan as the draft has been sent to different ministries including finance, liberation war affairs and expatriate welfare for comments," the officials said.

The report said foreign adviser of the interim cabinet Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury already proposed the name of Kennedy for his role in Bangladesh's 1971 liberation war while the name of World Bank was referred by many in the government for its contribution to the country's development.

According to the draft, the "friends of Bangladesh" award would carry a letter of honour, a gold medal and USD 5,000 in cash.

Contribution to the liberation war, socio-economic development for the image building, global recognition of February 21 commemorating the 1952 language Martyr's Day, protection of Bangladesh's interests, conservation of nature and environment and human resource development would be assessed, among other things, for the award.