New Delhi, Dec 29 (IANS): The Congress on Tuesday set up a committee led by former Defence Minister AK Antony to plan and coordinate the party's activities to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the historic Bangladesh liberation war.

"Congress President Sonia Gandhi has approved the formation of the committee... to commemorate the war that India won in 1971, which holds testimony to the special relationship between our two countries," party General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal said in a communique.

The panel includes Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, former Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan, and former Union Minister Jitendra Singh. Former President Pranab Mukherjee's daughter Sharmistha Mukherjee, a party spokesperson, has also been named a member of the panel.

Other members include former Haryana Minister Kiran Choudhry, Telangana Congress chief Uttam Kumar Reddy, and Major Ved Prakash. Praveen Davar has been made the panel's Convener.

The 1971 Bangladesh liberation war was fought during the rule of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.