Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt pays tribute to the Soldiers of Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971
- Calls them Foundation of “Bharat-Bangladesh Matree”
- Bangladesh’s struggle for independence is one of the great movements in contemporary history: Mr. Ajay Bhatt
New Delhi. Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt paid tributes to Indian Soldiers who laid down their lives during the War of Liberation of Bangladesh in 1971, at a ceremony organised by Bangladesh High Commission on 26 October, 2023 in New Delhi. Speaking on the occasion, he said, “We all have gathered here for paying solemn tributes to our soldiers whose contributions in shaping the history of India and Bangladesh are the foundation of the “Bharat-Bangladesh Maitree”. “Maitree, Bondhutva, Friendship” – these are the words defining the fraternal ties between the people of India and Bangladesh. They define an irreversible relationship, firmly rooted in the close people-to-people and cultural ties, inspired by the valor and sacrifice of the Muktijoddhas of the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971.
Terming the Bangladesh’s struggle for independence as one of the greatest movements in the contemporary history, Minister of State for Defence said that the ideals of the Liberation War of Bangladesh laid the foundation stone of Indo-Bangladesh ties which must be upheld, cherished and passed on to the younger generations. During the Bangladesh war Indian Army fought along with Muktijoddhas of Bangladesh for a noble cause. For many years, these Muktijoddhas acted as a bridge between the two countries, he added.
Minister of State for Defence highlighted the great strides made between India and Bangladesh in the areas of trade and commerce, connectivity, security, cultural cooperation, people-to-people links, training and capacity building, and environment conservation . “Weare working together to revive rail, road and waterways that traditionally linked the people and economies on both sides and also establishing new ones. Several developmental projects with Indian assistance have been completed and some more will be completed soon, he said.
Elaborating upon the defence relations between India and Bangladesh, Minister of State for Defence said : “India and Bangladesh have a robust cooperation across all the domains including cooperation between Armed forces, training, scholarship and capacity building. Our two countries have enormous potential and opportunities to be tappedin the areas of strengthening exchanges and utilizing avenues of cooperation between the defence forces on both sides. I am glad to note that the utilization of Defence LoC of USD 500 million extended by the Government of India to the Government of Bangladesh has also moved forward.”
Minister of State for Defence thanked the Bangladesh High Commission for organising the event and congratulated the students receiving the “Bangbandhu Shiekh Mujuiber Rahman Student Scholarship”. The students were descendents of Martyrs of Bangladesh war.
Mr. A. K M Mozaame Haque, Minister of Liberation War Affairs of Bangladesh, Mr. Md Mustafizur Rahman, High Commissioner of Bangladesh, families and descendents of Indian and Bangladeshi Soldiers and students were present on the occasion.
