India, Bangla ties based on shared heritage: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday participated in the centenary celebrations of the birth of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman through a video message in which he said the deep rooted relations between India and Bangladesh are based on shared heritage, legacy and inspiration of Bangabandhu.
Mr Modi was scheduled to travel to Dhaka to participate in the mega event, which got truncated due Covid threat. “We are all witnessing that how, making terror and violence weapons of politics and diplomacy destroys a society and a nation. The world is also watching where the supporters of terror and violence are currently placed and in what state they are, while
Bangladesh is scaling new heights,” said Mr Modi in an indirect reference to Pakistan. Mr Modi described Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as one of the greatest figures of the last century and a “man of courage, conviction and sage of peace.”
He mentioned how Bangabandhu devoted every moment of his life towards bringing Bangladesh out of the phase of devastation and genocide and making it into a positive and progressive society.
“Bangabandhu was absolutely clear that hatred and negativity could never be the foundation of any country’s development. But Bangabandhu’s ideas and efforts were not liked by some people who snatched him away from us,” Prime Minister said.
Terming Bangladesh as
India’s largest trading and development partner in South Asia, the PM listed the cooperation between the two countries in a number of connectivity-enhancing sectors, such as electricity distribution, friendship pipeline, road, rail, internet, airways and waterways, which connect even more people from both countries.
Mentioning the coming milestones of the two countries — the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh’s liberation next year and the 75th anniversary of India’s independence in 2022 — the PM expressed confidence that both of these milestones will not only bring the development of India and Bangladesh to new heights, but will also strengthen the bond of friendship between the two countries.