‘Bangabandhu promoted noncommunal politics in the Indian sub-continent’

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has promoted peace and non-communal politics not only in Bangladesh but in the entire Indian sub-continent, said Indian Railway, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.

He was addressing as chief guest a reception hosted by the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on Wednesday evening marking the 50th Independence Day of Bangladesh.

Piyush Goyal said the Indian government has rightly honoured Bangabandhu with the Gandhi Peace Prize on the occasion of the Father of the nation's birth centenary, according to a statement of the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi.

He said Bangladesh has reached a unique height in the last 50 years.

He hoped that the two countries will celebrate 100 years of Bangladesh's independence as developed nations.

Bangladesh's High Commissioner to India Muhammad Imran recalled with deep gratitude the contribution of Indian people and government for their moral and material support during the Liberation war.

He said nine months war in 1971 ravaged the economy and completely destroyed the infrastructure of the country but the people of Bangladesh succeeded to rise from the ashes to bring vibrancy in the economy in last five decades.

He said over the last decade the relations between Bangladesh-India have reached a golden chapter with a comprehensive partnership covering all possible area of cooperation under the leadership of the able Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

In the recent year Bangladesh and India have been working together to reestablish the old connectivity and to open new routes to connect the distant areas of India through Bangladesh. People to people contact has increased manifold due to better connectivity and flexibility in visa regime of both sides.

The reception was followed by dinner and attended by diplomats, government officials, military attaches, war veterans, elites, journalists' academics and friends of Bangladesh. The chancery and the Bangladesh House, residence of the High Commissioner, were illuminated.