Indian president Kovind inaugurates renovated Ramna Kali Mandir

Visiting Indian president Ram Nath Kovind on Friday inaugurated the newly refurbished building of Ramna Kali Mandir (temple) in the capital caity, reports UNB.

He inaugurated the renovated building in the morning by unveiling a plaque. The Indian president also offered puja at the temple.

He also exchanged greetings with the invited guests, the temple committee members and the devotees.

Kovind came to Dhaka on Wednesday on a three-day visit to join the birth centenary celebrations of Bangladesh’s founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Golden Jubilee celebration of the country’s independence. President Kovind is scheduled to leave for New Delhi this afternoon.

Earlier, Ramna Kali Mandir’s executive committee president Utpal Saha said Sri Sri Ramna Kali Mandir and Srima Anandamayi Ashram was completely destroyed by the Pakistani forces during heinous Operation Searchlight in 1971.

He said that the centuries-old temple was destroyed and many houses on temple premises came under attack and residents were brutally killed during the Operation Searchlight of the Pakistan army.

Utpal said the temple was renovated at the funding of Indian government with the help of the Bangladesh government.

The renovation comes 50 years after the independence of Bangladesh as none who came in power after the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman took any initiative for the renovation of the temple.

"When Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina assumed office as the prime minister, we got the opportunity to perform worship here without any obstacles from police," he said.

Utpal said the initiative to get the temple-cum-hermitage facelift was possible as Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina is in power.

He said there is a memorable plaque with inscription of the names of those who were martyred on the temple premises during the Liberation War in 1971.