On his two-day go to to Bangladesh, his first international journey after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic final 12 months, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday emphasised that each nations should progress collectively for the prosperity of the area and asserted that they need to stay united to counter threats like terrorism.
“We must remember that we’ve similar opportunities in fields of trade and commerce, but at the same time, we’ve similar threats like terrorism. The ideas and powers behind such types of inhumane acts are still active. We must remain vigilant and united to counter them,” PM Modi whereas addressing Bangladesh’s fiftieth Independence anniversary on the National Parade Square in Dhaka.
PM Modi, who was sporting a ‘Mujib Jacket’ as a tribute to Bangladesh’s Father of the Nation ‘Bangabandhu’ Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, attended the occasion to mark Bangladesh’s fiftieth National Day Programme the place he handed over the Gandhi Peace Prize 2020 to the daughters of Rahman. The Gandhi Peace Prize 2020 was conferred on Bangabandhu early this week.
“This is one of the most memorable days of my life. I am grateful that Bangladesh has included me in this event. I am grateful that Bangladesh has invited India to take part in this function. It is a matter of our pride that we got the opportunity to honour Sheikh Mujibur Rahman with Gandhi Peace Prize,” PM Modi stated.
He additionally heaped reward on Mujibur Rahman and the Indian Army for his or her position throughout Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War. Under Mujibur Rahman’s management, Modi stated, widespread folks of Bangladesh throughout the social spectrum got here collectively and have become ‘Muktibahini’. He stated Bangladesh’s Liberation War had assist from all corners of India, from all events, each part of the society.
“I salute the brave soldiers of the Indian Army who stood with the brothers and sisters of Bangladesh in Muktijuddo. Those who gave their blood in Muktijuddo, sacrificed themselves, and played a very big role in realising the dream of independent Bangladesh,” he stated.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was acquired by Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina on the airport. (Source: PMO India)
The warfare broke out after the sudden crackdown at midnight previous on March 25, 1971 within the erstwhile East Pakistan by the Pakistani troops and ended on December 16. Subsequently, Pakistan conceded defeat and unconditionally surrendered in Dhaka to the allied forces comprising the liberty fighters and the Indian troopers. A complete of three million folks, as per official data, have been killed in the course of the nine-month-long warfare.
Recalling the 1971 warfare of independence, Modi stated the photographs of atrocities that the Pakistan Army inflicted on the folks in then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) used to distract folks in India. “I must have been 20-22 years old when I and my colleagues did Satyagraha for Bangladesh’s freedom,” he instructed the gathering.
PM Modi with the Opposition leaders of Bangladesh. (Source: PMO India)
“Operation Searchlight and its violations haven’t been discussed enough on global platforms. During this struggle, Bangabandhu was the ray of hope. His resilience and leadership had decided that no force would be able to stop the freedom of Bangladesh,” he stated.
PM Modi met ‘Muktijoddhas’, the 1971 liberation warfare fighters of Bangladesh, in Dhaka. (ANI)
The Prime Minister additionally said that the subsequent 25 years are essential for each India and Bangladesh. “Our heritage is shared, our development is shared, our targets and alternatives are additionally shared, he stated, including that each nations have the ability of democracy and imaginative and prescient for the longer term.
“That is why Indian and Bangladeshi governments are making meaningful efforts in this direction,” he added.
PM Modi stated that in the course of the pandemic, each the international locations helped in creating the SAARC Covid-19 fund and in coaching human useful resource. “India is delighted that ‘Made In India’ vaccines are treating people of Bangladesh,” the PM stated.
At Savar, PM Modi planted an Arjuna Tree sapling. (Source: PMO India)
PM Modi additionally prolonged an invitation to 50 entrepreneurs from Bangladesh to India to affiliate with the nation’s innovation ecosystem and meet enterprise capitalists.
At the occasion, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina thanked her Indian counterpart for attending the National Day Programme and emphasised that India has grow to be one in all their greatest improvement companions.
“In our independence war, we always remember the contribution of India. PM Narendra Modi has graced this occasion, being physically present here as a Guest of Honour. We are honoured to have him here,” Hasina stated.
PM Narendra Modi paid tributes on the National Martyr’s Memorial in Savar. (Source: PMO India)
“India was beside us during our good and bad times. This time India hands over 109 ambulances for people of Bangladesh. I extend my heartiest thanks to PM Modi, his government and people of India. Before that India had cooperated with us and gifted us vaccines for Covid-19,” she added.
Remembering India’s contribution in the course of the 1971 warfare, the Bangladeshi PM stated, “India sheltered about 10 million people who fled from Bangladesh in the face of persecution by Pakistani soldiers, in the face of killing, genocide and rape. India gave them shelter, food and medication. They helped our freedom fighters with all types of cooperation.”
“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,” she added.
During his go to, PM Modi will maintain substantive discussions with Hasina. “Our partnership with Bangladesh is an important pillar of our Neighbourhood First policy, and we are committed to further deepen and diversify it. We will continue to support Bangladesh’s remarkable development journey, under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s dynamic leadership,” Modi tweeted forward of his go to.
