Bangladesh, India pledge to fortify friendship as building opens at Visva-Bharati

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has hoped Bangladesh and India will emerge as a model of bilateral ties for the world by achieving socio-economic development through mutual cooperation.

She believes the problems between the two neighbouring countries will be resolved in a friendly atmosphere.

Narendra Modi, the prime minister of India, a key partner in Bangladesh’s development, was on the same wavelength.

He says the way the two countries are bonded will be an example for the rest of the world.

He assured Bangladesh of full cooperation to achieve its target to become a developed nation by 2041.

The two premiers pledged to strengthen the bond at the inauguration of the Bangladesh Bhavana at the Visva-Bharati university in West Bengal on Friday.

 

Hasina announced the construction of the building during the joint celebrations of Rabindranath Tagore’s 150th birth anniversary in 2011.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was also present at the opening of the building, considered as ‘a symbol of cultural ties’ between the two countries.

Photo: Saiful Islam Kallol

Hasina said in her speech, “We hope that we will be able to achieve socio-economic development through full utilisation of mutual cooperation. Bangladesh-India bilateral relationship is often considered as a ‘model of bilateral relations’ for the rest of the world.”

Modi praised Hasina for setting the ‘visionary’ 2041 target for development. “India’s support will always be there for Bangladesh to achieve this target.”

The Indian prime minister described Hasina’s plan as a continuation of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s dream.

He said Bangladesh’s social development was ‘exemplary’.

“We have the same goal and we are trying to achieve it in the same way. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced ‘power for all within 2021’; India has also targeted full electricity coverage within next year,” Modi said.

He also thanked President Md Abdul Hamid for joining the International Solar Alliance Summit in New Delhi in March.

Photo: Saiful Islam Kallol

Hasina is visiting West Bengal to open the building and join the convocations of Visva-Bharati and Kazi Nazrul University in Asansol.

The issue of the share of the Teesta water and other unresolved problems between the two countries are also being discussed for some days.

Banerjee’s presence at the events fanned the discussions as her objection has blocked the Teesta deal for quite a few years.

“There can be problems between two neighbouring countries, we are solving these one by one. Some may have remained, but I don’t want to spoil this fine programme by speaking about those,” Hasina said.   

“But I hope we will be able to resolve any issues in a friendly environment,” she added.

Banerjee said she was ‘overjoyed’ at the opening of the building.

“Today Bangabandhu’s memory is coming back to my mind repeatedly, because the ties between India and Bangladesh date back to 1971.

“(The relations) are endless, like the Padma-Meghna-Jamuna rivers. Much water has flown, will flow. But I believe the relations between the two countries will be much, much better,” she said, refraining from comments on Teesta.

She also noted that India named an airport, an academy and many other structures after Bangladesh’s national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam.

Photo: Mamata Banerjee's Facebook page

Hasina remembered the help India had provided during Bangladesh’s Liberation War.

“We will never forget that India sheltered our 10 million refugees, trained and armed our freedom fighters."

She recalled that she and her sister Sheikh Rehana, who is accompanying her, took refuge in India after the assassination of Bangabandhu and most other members of the family on Aug 15, 1975.

She also said the resolution of the land border issue through the exchange of enclaves between the two countries was ‘unprecedented’.

“Many countries are at war over enclaves while we exchanged the enclaves in a friendly and joyful environment,” she said and thanked the government and people of India for their cooperation in settling the issue.

She vowed to put an end to poverty and hunger, terming these the “biggest problems of the region”.

Speaking about the cultural bonds between the two countries, Hasina said, “We want to exchange arts and literature, and work together for the humanity.”

The prime minister also raised the Rohingya issue in her speech, calling the international community to keep up the pressure on Myanmar to take back its refugees from Bangladesh.

Photo: Saiful Islam Kallol

The national anthems of both the countries, both composed by Tagore, were played at the inauguration of the institution the poet founded.

Hasina thanked the Visva-Bharati authorities, West Bengal government, India’s central government and the people of the country for setting up the building.

West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi, Visva-Bharati Vice-Chancellor Prof Sabuj Koli Sen, among others, were present.

In her speech, Hasina recalled how Tagore’s works influenced her father Bangabandhu.

“I don’t have the audacity to speak at length about Rabindranath. I would just like to mention that he is like a lighthouse in the life of each and every Bengali.

“He remains close to our hearts - in our joy or sorrow, in love or desertion, in rebellion and peace. We are immersed in the shower of his creations,” she said.

She also said as a citizen of Bangladesh she was ‘overwhelmed’ at the establishment of the building at the premises associated with the memories of Tagore.

“I think this is a piece of Bangladesh in Tagore’s Santiniketan where the spirit of Bangladesh will be reflected,” Hasina said.

Photo: Saiful Islam Kallol

Funded by the Bangladesh government, the building has a 450-seat theatre, the largest of the university.

A library of books on Bangladesh and its relations with India is also there besides a collection of historical and cultural artifacts of Bangladesh.

Murals of Bangabandhu and Tagore have been placed on the two sides of the building’s entrance.

After the inauguration of the building and the convocation, the two prime ministers held a bilateral meeting.

From the Visva-Bharati, Hasina travelled to Kolkata, where she visited Rabindranath’s birthplace, the Thakur Bari, at Jorasanko and met business leaders of Kolkata at the Taj Bengal hotel where she is staying during the two-day trip.

She also joined a dinner hosted by West Bengal Governor Tripathi.

On Saturday, she will travel to Asansol to join the special convocation of the Kazi Nazrul University.

Hasina will also receive honorary D Lit degree from the university.

Mamata Banerjee will also address the convocation.

On her return to Kolkata from Asansol, she will visit the Netaji Museum in the afternoon and return to Dhaka later in the night.

The prime minister visited India for the last time in April last year.