Hasina-Modi virtual summit on Dec 17
The virtual summit between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi scheduled for December 17 will highlight the celebration of Bangladesh's 50th anniversary of independence next year.
"The highlight of the summit will be the victory of Bangladesh... They [India] helped us in the war of 1971. The history could be different if they had not," Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said yesterday.
Indian Prime Minister Modi was scheduled to visit Bangladesh in March this year to attend Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's birth centenary event, but could not come because of the pandemic.
He is likely to visit Bangladesh in March next year to join the 50 years anniversary of Bangladesh's independence.
According to officials concerned, celebrations of the 50th anniversary will be a special focus during the meeting. The two premiers will launch a commemorative postal stamp and Bangabandhu-Bapu Digital Museum.
Bapu is an affectionate form of address given to Mahatma Gandhi by his near and dear ones and later became one of the sobriquets used for him along with Mahatma and Father of the Nation.
"The 3D digital museum will feature historical events in the lives of the two great leaders of India and Bangladesh," a foreign ministry official told this correspondent.
An Indian High Commission official had earlier said the museum will showcase the values that "our founding fathers bequeathed to our respective nations."
Bangabandhu-Bapu Digital Museum will be shown on TV-screens placed at different places in Bangladesh, India and some other countries, the official added.
"The summit between the two prime ministers is very significant. This is happening at a time when Bangladesh is celebrating the birth centenary of Bangabandhu and is preparing for the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's independence," the foreign ministry official said.
"The meeting will reflect the depth of the two country's relationship."
Marking the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's independence, India also undertook various activities throughout next year. Sometime next year, a road connecting Mujibnagar in Meherpur and Nodia of West Bengal will also be opened.
"It was a difficult time. We declared independence. Awami League leaders and international journalists came to Mujibnagar in Meherpur on April 17 in 1971. The oath-taking ceremony of the provisional government was held there," said Foreign Minister Momen.
"They came here through the Meherpur-Nodia border. It is a historic road. On Indian side, the road is open. On our side, it is not. We want to open it. India also agreed. We would like to name it Swadhinata Sarak.
"There are beautiful sculptures in Mujibnagar. Indians can also come to visit…"
Recalling the role of then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said her contribution must be recognised. She wrote letters to the heads of states across the world, describing the tortures on the Bangladeshis by the Pakistani military.
"She [Indira Gandhi] visited the US, Europe and Russia to highlight the tortures."
After Pakistan's attack against India in early December 1971, India declared war and recognised Bangladesh's independence and sovereignty. India also has an important role to bring back Bangabandhu from Pakistan after the liberation war. "We are grateful for this."
"Indian army personnel sacrificed their lives for Bangladesh's independence. So, we have a blood relationship with India. It is historic and time-tested. India is our all-time friend," Momen said. "India has a lot to be proud of in our victory."
The prime ministers will inaugurate the reopening of the railway route between Haldibari in West Bengal and Chilahati in Bangladesh on December 17. The railway has been defunct after rail links between India and then East Pakistan snapped in 1965.
Other issues including water sharing, border security, trade and development will also be discussed during the PM-level meeting, the minister said.
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