Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi remembering and saluting Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the ‘Muktijoddhas’ (Freedom Fighters) and the Indian army for the creation of Bangladesh said goals of both the neighbours are ‘common’, so, ‘our efforts should also be united’.
“For our millions of people, for their future, for our fight against poverty and for the fight against terrorism, our goals are common; therefore, our efforts should also be united,” he said. “We, therefore, need to further boost our efforts, add new dimensions to them, and take them to new heights”.
He was speaking at the celebration of the golden jubilee along with the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the National Parade Ground in Dhaka.
He wore a Mujib jacket as he pays tribute to Bangabandhu. He also handed over the Gandhi Peace Prize awarded to the Bangabandhu posthumously to his daughter Sheikh Rehana in presence of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
This year also marks the 50 years of India and Bangladesh ties.
He said he is pleased that he has been included in the celebrations of “this important milestone in the development journey of Bangladesh”.
“This birth centenary year of Jatir Pita, (the Father of the Nation) Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is further strengthening the relations between our two countries,” he said.
“The love that all of you have shown me today, makes this one of the most precious moments of my life,” he said as he arrived on a red carpet reception for the two-day visit on Friday morning.
“You have invited India with a great deal of affection, to be a part of these proud moments, this celebration. On this occasion, your 1.3 billion Indian brothers and sisters have sent their love and good wishes for Bangladesh,” he said.
This is his first foreign tour after the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“In India we still remember how Bangabandhu after being released from jail in Pakistan came to India on his way back to Bangladesh,”Modi said.
The speech he made in Delhi is still talked about by many. Bangbandhu had become emotional when speaking about Bangladesh’s independence, and the sacrifices made by the people of Bangladesh and India. He had tears in his eyes.
“Those tears were a symbol of the emotional bond between India and Bangladesh, they were a testimony to our relations. It is our responsibility to cherish the emotions behind those tears of Bangabandhu, and to keep them alive.”
“On behalf of all Indians, I extend my warmest greetings, to all of you, and to all the citizens of Bangladesh. I pay tribute to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who dedicated his whole life for Bangladesh and its people.
“For us Indians, it is a matter of pride, that we had the opportunity to honour Respected Sheikh Mujibur, with the Gandhi Peace Prize,” he said in Hindi.
He also remembered the Muktijoddhas who laid down their lives for the freedom and language of Bangladesh and said it was because of their sacrifice, the dream of independence came true.
He also remembered the valiant Indian soldiers who fought shoulder to shoulder with Bangladeshi freedom fighters.
He expressed gratitude to the government of Bangladesh for dedicating a war memorial to honour the memory of these brave martyrs in Ashuganj.
“The struggle for the liberation of Bangladesh was also one of the first movements that I took part in. I must have been 22 or 23 years old, when along with many of my friends, I did satyagraha, (a form of passive resistance), for the liberation of the people of Bangladesh,” he said.
“As part of my efforts to support the liberation of Bangladesh, I also courted arrest and had a taste of life in prison. That is to say, there was as much of a longing for Bangladesh’s freedom in India, as there was in Bangladesh,” he remembered.
“The images of the heinous crimes and atrocities committed by the Pakistani army here, made our blood boil too, and gave us countless sleepless nights,” he said recalling the Pakistan genocide.
He said the tyrannical government was massacring its own citizens.
It was crushing their language, their voice, their identity. “The world did not talk as much about the cruelty, oppression and atrocities of ‘Operation Searchlight’ as it should have.”
“In the midst of all this, a ray of hope for the people here, and for us Indians, was Bangabandhu Mujibur Rahman.
“Bangabandhu’s courage, his leadership, ensured that no power, could keep Bangladesh under subjugation.
He quoted Bangabandhu March 7 speech ‘The struggle this time, is a struggle for emancipation, The struggle this time, is a struggle for independence.’
Under his leadership, common people, the farmers, the youth, teachers, workers all came together to form the Mukti Bahini, or the Liberation army.
Therefore, this occasion, it is also a day to remember his vision, his ideals and his courage.
“I remember the images, when this year on the 26th January, on the occasion of India’s Republic day, the Tri-Service Contingent of the Bangladesh Armed Forces marched to the tune of a popular song that hails Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
“The future of India and Bangladesh is just waiting for countless such moments full of goodwill, and of mutual trust,” he said.
“It is a happy coincidence that the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh’s liberation and the milestone of 75th year of India’s independence have arrived together.
“For both of our countries, in the 21st Century, our journey over the next 25 years, will be very important.
“We have a common heritage, we have common development also. We have common goals, and we have common challenges too,” Modi said.
“We must remember that though we have similar possibilities in the area of trade and development, we also face similar threats, such as terrorism.
“The ideologies and forces behind these inhuman acts are active even today. We not only need to be alert, but also need to stay united to fight them.
“Both our countries have the power of democracy, we have a clear vision for moving forward.
“India and Bangladesh moving forward together, is equally important for the development of the entire region. And therefore, today, the governments of both India and Bangladesh, are understanding this sensitivity, and making meaningful efforts in this direction.
“We have demonstrated that with mutual trust and cooperation solutions can be found for all issues. Our Land Boundary Agreement also bears testimony to this.
“Even during this corona epidemic there has been excellent coordination between both the countries.
“We have worked together to create the SAARC Covid Fund, and coordinated training for our human resources,” he said.
“India is very pleased that Made in India vaccines have been helpful for our brothers and sisters in Bangladesh. In order to strengthen India-Bangladesh relations, it is equally important to have a better link between the youth of the both countries.
“On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of India-Bangladesh relations,I would like to invite 50 young entrepreneurs from Bangladesh to India.”
They should come to India, connect with our start up and innovation ecosystems, meet our venture capitalists.
“We too will learn from them, and they too will get an opportunity to learn.”
Along with this, he also announced Subarno Jayanti scholarships for the youth of Bangladesh.
He quoted Bangabadhu and said, Bangladesh will definitely remain independent. There is no power on earth which can keep Bangladesh under subjugation”.
“This declaration by the Bangabandhu was not only a warning to those who opposed the existence of Bangladesh, it was also an expression of faith in the capabilities of Bangladesh.”
“I am pleased that under Sheikh Hasina’s able leadership, Bangladesh is showing its dynamism to the world. Those who had objected to the creation of Bangladesh, those who looked down upon the people of Bangladesh as inferior, those who had apprehensions about the existence of Bangladesh, Bangladesh has proved them all wrong.”
Earlier, he visited national memorial in Savar and Bangabandhu museum at Dhanmondhi.
He also met the young achievers of Bangladesh and interacted with Muktijoddhas on his first-day of the two-day visit.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen also called on him.
The bilateral meeting with the PM, Sheikh Hasina, will be held on Saturday, before leaving Dhaka.
