Park Street renamed after Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

NEW DELHI: The Park Street here will now be known after Bangladesh's founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, with the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) approving its renaming a day before Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrives on a four-day visit.

Hasina, who is Rahman's daughter, will have a series of meetings on various issues including on enhancing rail, road and water connectivity.

The NDMC arrived at a decision aimed at expressing a “friendly gesture” by circular motion. “It has been decided to rename Park Street after founder of Bangladesh -- Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman -- ahead of Sheikh Hasina's visit. This is like a friendly gesture as India shares cordial relations with Bangladesh,” a senior NDMC official said

“The decision was arrived at through a circular motion as a council meeting could not be convened for the purpose due to shortage of time and with the model code of conduct being in place because of MCD polls,” he added.

Rahman was the central figure in Bangladesh's liberation movement and served twice as the Bangladesh President. He studied law at Maulana Azad College in Kolkata and joined student politics there.

According to NDMC officials, while 12 of the council members including Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal agreed to the proposal, AAP MLA from Delhi Cantt Surinder Singh refused to give his consent.