By IANS,
New Delhi : A 19-member Bangladeshi delegation led by Planning Minister A.K. Khandker Saturday paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat in New Delhi.
The delegation which is currently in India in connection with the commemoration of 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore also visited the National Science Museum.
Earlier, the visiting dignitaries called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.
In speech at the opening of the commemoration of Tagore’s 150th birth anniversary, Khandkar said, “The occasion is significant because the occasion is celebrated in the two countries under the joint sponsorship”.
He described Rabindranath Tagore as “one of the greatest sons of the subcontinent”.
Tagore had composed “Amar Sonar Bangla” as a song in 1905 which was later adopted as the Bangladesh’s national anthem after it was liberated in 1971.
“Bangladesh and India share a common heritage that dates back to antiquity. Both the countries share history of struggle against colonialism and exploitation.”
Recalling the relationship between Bangladesh and India, he said: “The spontaneous support from the government and the people of India in 1971 can never be forgotten by the people of Bangladesh.”
He said, Bangladesh firmly believes that to “achieve peace and stability, the society should be free from scourge of terrorism and extremism.”
“To this end the government of Sheikh Hasina has launched an uncompromising fight against terrorism, extremism and militancy,” Khandekar said.
“She has also assured India that Bagladesh will not allow its soil to be used by elements working against the interest of any country,” he said.
Speaking to IANS, Bangladesh’s Cultural Secretary Suraiya Begum said: “The objective of the joint celebrations was to have a people-to-people, ministry-to-ministry and intellectuals to intellectuals cultural contact.”
“We want to share the experience and learn from each other,” she said.
Begum said the joint celebrations “are a cultural and diplomatic bridge between the two countries”.