India won’t do anything to create panic, hopes foreign minister
Friendly neighbour India will not take any step that would create panic among the people of the two countries, hoped Bangladesh foreign minister AK Abdul Momen on Friday.
“The people of Bangladesh expect friendly India won’t do anything that would create an environment of fear and anxiety for people of both the countries. Rather, Bangladesh and India will move ahead with friendly ties and fulfil the expectations of the people,” he said.
The foreign minister was addressing a programme titled ‘India’s Contribution to the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971 and Bangladesh-India Relations’ on Friday.
Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee organised the programme marking the 48th anniversary of India’s recognition of Bangladesh as an independent country at Kabi Sufia Kamal auditorium of National Museum, Dhaka.
The minister said India is inseparably related to Bangladesh’s independence through its recognition on this day in 1971. The history of Bangladesh’s independence will be incomplete without detailed discussions on the contributions of India.
Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Riva Ganguly Das also spoke at the event.
She said the sacrifice of the Biranganas for the cause of Bangladesh’s liberation must not be forgotten.
Riva Ganguly Das also said December is a special month for the people of Bangladesh. They got ended their sufferings this month. India gave shelter to around 10 million people that put huge pressure on its resources while the Indian soldiers also made supreme sacrifices. This is what the friends do for each other.
She further said as a mark of respect to the freedom fighters, the government of India has arranged five years’ visa and free medical treatment at Armed Forces hospitals in India for them, and scholarships for their children.
Quoting the Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee adviser justice Shamsuddin Chowdhury said if the Rohingya crisis is not resolved, this would create security problems in this region.
Shamsuddin Chowdhury hoped India would make an effort to ensure the Rohingyas can return home (in Myanmar).
British rights activist Julian Francis was conferred Swadhinota Maitree Sommanona for his contributions to Bangladesh’s liberation war.
He said people started taking shelter in India after 25 March 1971. Sometimes over 50,000 people crossed the border in a day. At that time India helped the refugees tremendously.
Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee president Shahriar Kabir said no country had to sacrifice so much for liberation.
It is a matter of great sorrow that after 1975, anti-liberation forces ruled the country most of the time. They wanted to prove Bangladesh a failed state time and again, he added.