Bangladesh-India bond inscribed with blood: Hasan

Terming Bangladesh-India relations historical, Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud Wednesday said the bonds of the peoples of the two countries are inscribed with blood. “Bangladesh will never forget the historical contribution of India to the country’s great Liberation War and its struggle for independence. It will be written in golden letter in the pages of history,” he said.

“The relations between the two countries have reached a new height under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi,” he added.

Hasan stated these while inaugurating the second Bangladesh Film Festival at Agartala in Tripura of India, said a release received here. Bangladesh Assistant High Commission to Agartala organized the festival under the initiative of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

Chief Minister of Tripura Biplab Kumar Deb addressed the inaugural function as the chief guest. Information and Cultural Affairs Minister of Tripura Sushanata Chowdhury, Bangladesh lawmakers Mamtaz Begum and Saimum Sarwar Kamol, Information and Broadcasting Secretary Md Mokbul Hossain, and Deputy High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India Nural Islam, addressed it as special guests while Assistant High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India Arif Mohammad gave welcome speech.

Hasan said about one crore people took shelter in India during the Liberation War and the then Indian government carried out diplomatic activities in different countries of the world to free Bangabandhu. “We never forget the contribution of India,” he added.

Expressing deep gratitude to the people of Tripura and the then government of the state, he said the people of the state had opened the door of Tripura in 1971 and hundreds of refugees took shelter there.

He said, “Our language is same and the culture is also similar though we are people of two countries. Many people of Tripura kept role in our Liberation War and many of them were awarded by the Bangladesh government.”

Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary, extended thanks to all of them and their family members.

Chief Minister Biplab Kumar said the people of Bangladesh are walking bravery across the globe due to the dynamic leadership of Bangabandhu’s daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The enemies of Bangladesh and India will never succeed due to the farsighted leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Indian Premier Narendra Modi, he added.

He said, “I was born in 1971 when Bangladesh achieved independence. Besides, Bangladesh will be my first foreign tour as the chief minister.” After the inaugural discussion, the documentary based on Bangladesh’s Prime Minister’s life ‘Sheikh Hasina: A Daughter’s Tale’ was screened.

Earlier, Hasan met with the Tripura chief minister at his office. In the bilateral meeting, they discussed on the transport system and increasing cultural and trading relations. Hasan will inaugurate the festival at Guwahati on Thursday.

The minister will also hold a meeting with Assam Chief Minister Hemanta Bishwa Shorma, inaugurate Bangabandhu Center at Bangladesh Assistant High Commission of Guwahati and Indo-Bangla Jamdani exhibition centre at Assam Nepal Temple. The minister is expected to return home on February 27.