B’desh Minister showers praise on Indira Gandhi for her ”great role” in liberation war

New Delhi:Bangladesh Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Hasan Mahmud on Monday lauded the contribution of India, and the then prime minister Indira Gandhi in the liberation war of his country, while calling for deepening people to people contacts for further strengthening of the relations between the two neighbours.

The occasion was the inauguration of the ‘Bangabandhu Media Centre’ at the Press Club of India (PCI) here. The Centre has been set up with the support of the Bangladesh High Commission in India as part of various initiatives to mark the birth anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

”Without India’s help, Bangladesh would not have been able to achieve independence,” Dr Mahmud said, recalling how Indira Gandhi reached out to various countries to garner support for the liberation of his country.

”She played a great role,” the Bangladesh Minister said.

Dr Mahmud said India-Bangladesh relations have touched a new high under the leadership of Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Sheikh Hasina, but the two countries will have to do more to increase people to people contacts.

Noting that journalists also played a significant role in the struggle of Bangladesh for freedom, he said that was the reason the High Commission in the birth centenary year of Bangabandhu wanted to pay tribute to them by extending a helping hand in setting up resource and facilitation centres for them.

The media centre inaugurated today is equipped with modern facilities.

Earlier, Joint Secretary(Bangladesh) in the Ministery of External Affairs of India Smita Pant in her remarks assured the visiting dignitaries from Dhaka that India will remain a committed partner in the development of their coutry. She said India’s look East Policy finds its voice in its relationship

with Bangladesh, which was India’s largest trading partner, and with which India has longest border, which is settled.

Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Mohammad Imran said more such resource centres like the media centre at the Press Club of India would be opened with Bangladesh support in other states for boosting cooperation and contacts between the two countries.

President of Bangladesh Press Club Farida Yasmeen also spoke on the occasion. A number of Senior diplomats from Bangladesh High Commission, including Depury High Commissioner Mohammad Nural Islam, besides senior journalists attended the function, at the end of which a MoU for setting up of the media centre was signed by Minister (Press) of the Bangladesh mission Shaban Mahmood and Secretary-General of the PCI Vinay Kumar on behalf of their respective sides.

Earlier, President of the Press Club of India Umakant lakhera and former President Gautam Lahiri welcomed the guests.

—INDIA NEWS STREAM