Indian Cultural Centre inaugurated in Gulshan

Shared cultural heritage is the strength of friendship between Bangladesh and India, said Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today after inaugurating the Indian Cultural Centre in the capital's Gulshan.

"Our shared cultural heritage is the strength of our partnership. It is the primary driver of our people-to-people connectivity," he said after inaugurating the new Indian Cultural Centre, according to a press release.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram Doraiswami was also present.

He said he was proud to inaugurate the centre in the month of Bangladesh's independence and a few days after the International Mother Language Day on February 21.

India this year recognised two Bangladeshis -- Sanjida Khatun, Bangladesh's renowned musicologist and founder of Chhayanaut Institute, and Liberation War veteran Col Quazi Sajjad Ali Zahir -- with the Padma Shri Award, the highest civilian award of India.

"I am delighted to dedicate this new Indian Cultural Centre to the service of the people of Bangladesh and the friendship of our two countries," said Jaishankar.

The Indian minister arrived in Dhaka at 10:00am today, held a bilateral meeting with Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen and called on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the afternoon.

The purpose of the meeting was to prepare the groundwork of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit on March 26-27 to attend the celebrations of the 50-year anniversary of Bangladesh's independence and Mujib Borsho – the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

A 10-day celebration from March 17-26 is being chalked out on the occasion.