From Our Correspondent
AGARTALA: Recognizing Tripura as ‘Tirtha Bhoomi’ (Pilgrimage) for its self-sacrificing support in her country’s glorious liberation war in 1971, Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina said that people of Bangladesh would always vividly remember those tragic days with deep gratitude the love and support towards hapless people of erstwhile East Pakistan received from Tripura and other Northeastern states which were used as shelter by refugees with all support from the central government of India.
Not only support, our freedom fighters had received training on this side of the border and eventually fought with our Indian friends to final surrender of the occupation forces and liberation of Bangladesh on December 16, 1971, she said while addressing the 9th convocation of Tripura Central University after receiving D. Lit from the varsity.
An emotional Hasina said, “In the days of crisis- when an occupation force had cracked down on a defenceless people all over Bangladesh on March 25, 1971, setting in motion one of the largest human exodus of the last millennium, Tripura and India stood by our side and helped selflessly by sharing their food, shelter and other basic needs.”
Recalling the days of the freedom struggle, Bangladesh PM said, “The occupation force had arrested my entire family and I had given birth my first child during the confinement. The whole world knows the brutality carried out by the occupation force on people of erstwhile East Pakistan”.
Hasina further said that sixteen members of my family including Sheikh Mujibar Rahaman, father of Bangladesh nation was brutally killed in a fateful night of 1975. Me and my sister Rehena Siddique had to take shelter in Indian till 1981.
She also recalled the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for her support to liberate Bangladesh from the occupation force.
Besides, Bangladesh PM also underlined need on mutual understanding among South Asian nations to boost the bilateral ties.
“We want to live in peace with neighbours that will strengthen the socio-economic bond among the South Asian nations. The access to Ashuganj, Chittagong, Mongla port and cargo transshipment are among steps taken by the Bangladesh government to boost business ties with neghbours”, he said.
Vice President M Hamid Ansari handed over the honorary D. Lit to Bangladesh PM in presence of Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni, Governor Dr. DY Patil and Chief Minister Manik Sarkar.
The Bangladesh PM was accorded with a civic reception programme at Assam Rifles ground where she acknowledged Tripura’s contribution in her country’s liberation war in 1971. “We are indebted to Tripura and India for their selfless support to historic liberation war”.
Later in the evening, Bangladesh Prime Minister left the state along with 89-member delegation refreshing memories of the Bangladesh liberation war.