Business, culture top Mamata-Hasina talks

The West Bengal government is looking to build a museum in the memory of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh.

According to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the museum will come up if both the countries agree and give the requisite permissions.

The Dhaka-sponsored ‘Bangladesh Bhavan’ at the Visva-Bharati university campus in Santiniketan was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday.

‘Fruitful’ meet

“Yesterday, the Bangladesh Bhavan was inaugurated; we also want to build a museum in the memory of Bangabandhu Mujibur Rahman. If the both the countries agree and give permission we will start work,” Banerjee told newspersons after a meeting with Sheikh Hasina here on Saturday.

Referring the meeting as ‘fruitful’, Banerjee said that education, culture and business were some of the topics discussed.

“The relationship between West Bengal and Bangladesh has always been cordial; we discussed a lot of common issues of interest between us which includes education, culture and business,” she said.

Before meeting Banerjee, the Bangladeshi Prime Minister visited the museum housed at Netaji Research Institute and highlighted the role of the armed struggle undertaken by Netaji Subhas Bose in India’s independence.

“The liberation war of Bangladesh was also inspired by Netaji's freedom movement. And I am grateful to my sister Rehana who insisted on visiting Netaji Bhavan,” she said.

Among the gifts bestowed on Sheikh Hasina was a hand- written version of Amar Sonar Bangla , by Netaji which he had penned in a Mandalay prison. The words of the song in Netaji’s handwriting, taken from the archives of the prison, have been etched on a silk cloth anpresented to her.

‘Education, the key’

Delivering her speech at a special convocation of Kazi Nazrul University at Asansol, Sheikh Hasina said that Bangladesh has been working towards eradicating poverty in the nation by focussing on education.

According to Hasina, education is the only solution to bring down poverty and help the country progress.

The government in Bangladesh has laid emphasis on setting up of various universities, to offer specialised courses on textiles, medical, fashion, marine and agriculture among others, she said.

“We have been working towards getting rid of poverty in our country; and for this emphasis has to be given on education,” she said while delivering her speech at the convocation.

Improving literacy rate

Bangladesh has steadily improved its literacy rate, from 66 per cent in 2009 to 72 per cent now, she added. Sheikh Hasina was conferred a honorary D Litt at the convocation ceremony.

Hasina also expressed her gratitude to India for standing beside Bangladesh in the 1971 Liberation War. “We will never forget that you gave shelter to one crore refugees from Bangladesh then, we remain indebted to you for that.”

Hailing the contribution of Kazi Nazrul Islam, she said his poems were a source of inspiration during the Liberation War.

“Nazrul was motivated by non-communal spirit. So, we’re building Bangladesh with this non-communal spirit. Non-communal spirit is reflected in our principle and ideology where people, irrespective of their race and religion, will enjoy equal rights,” she said.

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