India-Bangladesh ties are forged with blood and no one can harm the relation, Indian High Commissioner Vikram Kumar Doraiswami said Tuesday.
"I am proud that the freedom fighters and the Indian Army have sacrificed their lives together [in Chattogram during the 1971 Liberation War]. Our [India’s] friendly relations with Bangladesh are not only historical and cultural; it’s tied with blood. No one can crack the relations,” he said.
The Indian envoy made the remarks while unveiling a sculpture titled 'Mrityunjayi Mitra' on the Chandranath hill in Sitakunda upazila to commemorate the freedom fighters and Indian soldiers who died during Bangladesh’s War of Independence in 1971.
Doraiswami said, “I pay my deep respects to the martyred freedom fighters and self-sacrificing Indian soldiers at Sitakunda upazila. My father also took part in the Liberation War as a pilot. So, I’m very proud (of him).”
Expressing his conviction that India-Bangladesh ties will last forever, he said Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is the spirit of Bangladesh and that his countrymen will never forget his sacrifice.
Mentioning that Bangladesh gained independence by sacrificing 3 million lives, the envoy said those who now want to hinder the progress of Bangladesh will not succeed.
Presided over by Chittagong Zila Parishad Chairman Abdus Salam, the event was attended by Awami League Presidium Member Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, Sitakunda lawmaker Didarul Alam, Zila Parishad Chief Executive Officer Shabbir Iqbal, Chittagong District Freedom Fighter Commander Mohammad Sahabuddin, Metropolitan Commander Mozaffar Ahmed, Indian High Commissioner's wife Sangeeta Doraiswami, Indian Assistant High Commissioner in Chittagong Anindya Banerjee and Indian Assistant High Commission Second Secretary Dipti Alanghat.
A fierce battle was broke out between the Pakistani forces and the freedom fighters and allied forces in Sitakunda at the end of the War of Independence in 1971.
Fighting, the freedom fighters and allied forces reached Kumira in Sitakunda on 16 December forcing the Pakistani troops to retreat. In the afternoon, the freedom fighters started celebrating the victory. Some return to their homes. Just at that time, the Pakistanis launched a surprise attack on the freedom fighters and Indian army. The battle started again in Sitakunda that lasted until the night of 17 December.
More than 50 Indian soldiers and several freedom fighters were killed in this long-drawn-out war. Sitakunda was liberated on 17 December after their sacrifice.
After the war, bodies of the Indian soldiers were buried on the banks of Gazaria Dighi in Chandranath Mahatirtha of Sitakunda Municipality.
The Chittagong Zila Parishad erected the 'Mrityunjayi Mitra' sculpture in front of the Hanuman Temple just above the tank of Sita Devi of Chandranath Dham Mahatirtha in memory of the heroes at a cost of Tk 31 lakh.