“India helped our freedom fighters with all types of cooperation”, says Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina

Sheikh Hasina also said that India is not only our next door neighbour, we have a historical, social, cultural heritage and geographical rapport.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently on a two days visit to India’s neighbouring country Bangladesh. Its first abroad tour of PM Modi since the outbreak of COVID-19 last year. PM Modi was welcomed by Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina herself at the air port.

Now, Bangladeshi PM Hasina has remembered India’s contribution to their Independence struggle and how India helped Bangladesh in its evolution. As quoted by the news agency ANI, Hasina said, “India is not only our next door neighbour, we have a historical, social, cultural heritage and geographical rapport. The people and govt of India were immensely involved the evolution process of Bangladesh during our liberation war in 1971”.

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Sheikh Hasina further added, “India sheltered about 10 million people who fled from Bangladesh in the face of persecution by Pakistani soldiers, in the face of killing, genocide & rape. India gave them shelter, food & medication. They helped our freedom fighters with all types of cooperation”.

Bangladeshi PM also recalled the sacrifice of Indo-Bangla allied forces. She said, “By the joint operation of India-Bangladesh allied forces, the final victory was achieved on 16th Dec 1971. A notable number of Indian soldiers sacrificed their lives along with our freedom fighters & attained martyrdom. I remember their sacrifice with great honour”.

PM Sheikh Hasina then remembered the time when Bangladesh’s father of nation Bangabandhu assassinated. As quoted by ANI, Hasina said, “I remember with great anguish, 15th Aug 1975 – a dark night for Bangladesh when Father of Nation was assassinated, my mother, 3 brothers, 2 sisters-in-law & 10-year-old brother, uncle were brutally assassinated, & all martyrs who attained martyrdom that night”.

She further added, “After killing Bangabandhu, the people who grabbed power had tried to wipe out his name from the minds of the people. We can only say that without a principle, without history, a nation can’t progress forward”.

Recently, India has conferred prestigious Gandhi Price Prize 2020 on Bangladesh’s first President Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, for bringing stability to Bangladesh, laying the foundation for the close and fraternal relations between India and Bangladesh, and promoting peace and non-violence in the Indian subcontinent.

Meanwhile, PM Modi’s visit to Bangladesh amid COVID-19 pandemic situation will further strengthen the relations between two neighbouring countries of Indian subcontinent.