Sheikh Hasina’s meeting with the President of India to strengthen ties and ensure the two countries remain more economically connected.
Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is on a four-day visit to India, called on President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday. “Welcoming the Prime Minister of Bangladesh to Rashtrapati Bhavan, the President said our shared history, language and culture connect us with each other,” an official statement by the Press Secretary of Rashtrapati Bhavan said.
Murmu noted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Hasina, bilateral ties between the two countries have grown immensely.
President Murmu added that the relations between India and Bangladesh have always been guided by the spirit of cooperation and mutual trust. “The pandemic and the current international situation demand that India and Bangladesh remain more economically connected to deal with the global crisis. She voiced confidence that with this visit, the relations between the two countries will further mature and develop,” the statement added.
Noting significant ties between New Delhi and Dhaka, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said that she feels happy to be in India every time, especially because of its contribution during the liberation war.
“India is our friend. Whenever I come here, it is pleasure for me, especially because we always recall the contribution India has made during our liberation war. We have a friendly relationship, we are cooperating with each other,” the Bangladeshi Prime Minister said today.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Bangladesh PM Hasina as she arrived at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Hasina shook hands with PM Modi. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was also present.
Rashtrapati Bhavan was decked up for Hasina’s welcome.
Hasina is set to meet President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar today. Apart from it, she will also meet Prime Minister Modi.
Hasina began her four-day visit to India yesterday as Bangladesh is an important partner under India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy
She said, ““India provided shelter to more than one crore people of Bangladesh during the Liberation War. We will always remain grateful for their role during the war.”
How Mrs Indira Gandhi Prime Minister Helped in the Bangladesh Liberation War
As shared by the Bangladesh post, during the nine months of the Independence war fought by Bangladesh in 1971, Mrs Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister of 700 million people in India. She was the daughter of India’s first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Mrs Indira Gandhi was born on November 17, 1917.
She was farsighted with a clear vision in politics. Lal Bahadur Shastri died in Tashkent, USSR during peace talks between India and Pakistan war of 1965. Mr Shastri died on January 11, 1966.
On March 27th morning curfew was lifted for some hours of the day, and people from Dhaka city started leaving for safe places by walking, country boats, trucks and other small vehicles. Under the instructions of Bangabandhu, Awami league leaders went to a safe place in India to wage an Independence war against Pakistan.
While people were escaping to India, Indian Border security forces (BSF) did not give any obstacles rather they welcomed the people who were pouring into India.
It was clearly understood that Mrs Indira Gandhi’s generosity helped the fleeing people to save their lives from the atrocities of the Pakistan army and also from the killings, and raping of girls and women of religious minorities of East Pakistan.
During the month of April to June 1971, one crore (10 million) took shelter in different refugee camps in India. Mrs Gandhi extended her support with the full cooperation of the Indian people. She honoured the refugees on humanitarian grounds who took shelter to save their lives from the brutal killings of the Pakistani Army.
Mrs Gandhi provided them with food, medicines, clothes and other essential items despite financial constraints.
Mrs Gandhi who was also a focal point of the central leadership in the National Congress, the ruling party of India, received a standing ovation from the members of parliament for her excellent speech in the ‘Lok Sabha ‘urging them to extend their all-out help to the brothers and sisters of East Pakistan who came here to save their lives from the atrocities of the occupation Pakistani army.
Not only that, she extended her full support by providing training to the freedom fighters for the cause of independent Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh liberation war began in 1971 for achieving Independence from Pakistan. India helped Bangladesh win the liberation war against Pakistan. Because of many reasons such as the large outpouring of the religious minorities into Indian Territory from East Pakistan created chaos in the border areas.
The other main reason was heavy pressure on the Indian economy as the government took extra burden in giving shelter to 10 million refugees from East Pakistan to the different camps of India.’ The internal political situation and other conspiracies hatched against the Indian government were among other reasons.
Mrs Indira Gandhi stood by the side of the Bangladeshi people from the beginning of the liberation war despite various adversities faced by different diplomatic hurdles.
She visited different refugee camps to see for herself the human miseries and sufferings. She gave them consolation and courage not to lose their morale. Mrs Gandhi showed the utmost gesture of her personality and human qualities to the refugees.
The Pakistan army first attacked India to divert the attention from the eastern part of Pakistan during the ninth month of guerrilla fighting by the ‘Mukitijoddahs’ (Freedom Fighters) in the interior of Bangladesh. The technique of guerrilla fighting was hit and run against Pakistan’s regular soldiers.
Mr M R Aktar Mukul, a Bangladeshi jornalist, was a humorist presenter of the ‘ Swadin Bangla Betar’s programme named “Charam Patra” (ultimatum letter). Mukti Bahinis and independence loving people were encouraged by his comedic presentation in their fighting against Pak army which made him most popular during the war.
When Mrs Indira Gandhi formally announced in the Indian Parliament that the Pakistani army attacked India on December 3, 1971, the parliament members including opposition parties rallied behind prime minister Indira Gandhi saying ‘Joy Bangla, Joy Indira Gandhi, long live Bangladesh – India friendship and long live Indiraji’. India officially declared war on December 3 in parliament.
After 13 days of the war, Pakistan’s eastern command Major general Niazi along with 90 thousands Pakistani occupation army surrendered to the joint command of Bangladesh and India on December 16, 1971 at the Race course maidan. Lt. Gen. Jagjit Singh Arora, eastern command of India and general Niazi signed the surrendering document on the day. On behalf of Bangladesh, Air vice Marshal A. K. Khander was present on the occasion.
Mrs Indira Gandhi gave unthinkable efforts to release the great Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from the Pakistani jail. For that reason, she made an extensive tour programme to different states of the world. The main objective of her visit was to convince the world leaders for releasing Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib from the Pakistani jail.
Pakistani rulers were compelled to release Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on January 8 in 1972 but after the release, Bangabandhu first flew to London.
Then the hero of the Bangladesh liberation war came to his motherland, on a bright day on January 10, 1972. He arrived in Dhaka via New Delhi where the Bengali hero was welcomed by the Indian President Mr V.V Giri and a courageous and charismatic popular Prime Minister Mrs Indira Gandhi. Bangabandhu was formally given a guard of honour by the smartly contingent of India.
Mrs Gandhi gave a welcome speech in honour of Bangabandhu. Bangabandhu also spoke on the occasion on January 10, 1972. Mrs Gandhi will be remembered gratefully by the people of Bangladesh with honour and dignity.
Finally, the great hero of the liberation war arrived at Tejgaon old airport where he was received by Awami league leaders, student leaders, and freedom fighters. Then Bangabandhu was given grand welcome reception in presence of thousands of people on January 10 at the race course.
For this, the Bangladeshis cannot forget Indira Gandhi