India-Bangladesh have charted a unique model for regional cooperation: Shringla

India has said its relationship with Bangladesh has withstood the test of time and both countries have "charted a unique model for regional cooperation that is quite unparalleled in South Asia."

Speaking at the inauguration of the 3rd Bangladesh Film Festival at Nandan in Kolkata last evening in the presence of Bangladesh's Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said the spirit of the Liberation War spurred the India-Bangladesh relationship, which is the foundation of the bilateral relationship for the years to come.

He said both countries have been blessed with history, culture, language and above all an ardent belief in freedom, justice and pluralism, and described the commonalities as the "bridge" to a future of peace and prosperity, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

"The India-Bangladesh bilateral relationship has withstood the test of time, and even as the world undergoes great upheaval in the post-pandemic era, our relationship grows from strength to strength," Shringla said.

He said, "A great role to build the bilateral relationship and inspire it to where it has come today can be traced back to none other than Bangladesh's Jatir Pita Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman."

Shringla recalled that Bangabandhu -- in his historic February 6, 1972 speech at the Brigade Parade ground in Kolkata on his way back home -- had said "this victory (in the Liberation War) would not have been ours if the people of West Bengal, Tripura, Assam, Meghalaya did not extend their unstinting support to my people... People of India rose to the occasion and they shared their food with my people. This victory would not have been possible if the government of India had not been behind us. What you have done, we can never repay."

Quoting Rabindranath Tagore, Bangabandhu had said, "my hands are empty, I've nothing to give, The only thing I have... is love, I offer you... all my love and he finished that great speech with 'Joy Bharat, Joy Bangla'," the Indian Foreign Secretary pointed out.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had noted in his special remarks at the inaugural ceremony of Mujib Borsho that "Bangabandhu is a hero in India as well."

Shringla said this year would see a plethora of events in both India and Bangladesh as well as in third countries and at the UN headquarters in New York, through which the two neighbours would jointly celebrate Mujib Borsho.

"The deep historical bond between our two nations has been etched in golden letters with the blood of our soldiers. It was protected and preserved by the sheer determination of our peoples," Shringla, former High Commissioner to Bangladesh, said.

The Foreign Secretary also mentioned the robust bilateral exchanges Bangladesh and India had in recent months including his two visits to Dhaka, notwithstanding the coronavirus pandemic.

"Cooperation is moving forward inexorably. Our prime minister is looking forward to his visit to Dhaka," he said.

FILM FESTIVAL WILL DEEPEN DHAKA-KOLKATA PROXIMITY: HASAN MAHMUD

While formally inaugurating the film festival, Information Minister Hasan Mahmud said the third 'Bangladesh Film Festival' will help deepen proximity of Bangladesh and West Bengal.

Hasan said a film touches the feelings of people and that is why it plays an important role in building people-to-people communication.

Hasan said the journey of Bangladeshi films started with the hands of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and Bangladesh and India are jointly working to make films under his daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

"Bangalee is our real identity and that's why we should enhance our cultural exchange, which will strengthen our proximity," he added.