would act like a bridge to strengthen India-Bangladesh bilateral ties ,says Mamata in Dhaka

21 Feb, Dhaka

Visiting West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and an Indian delegation consisting of eminent cultural personalities joined Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to pay homage to Language Martyrs at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka Saturday.

Mamata Banerjee is in Dhaka on a 3-day visit on invitation to take part in the country’s Language Day Programmes . The Day is also celebrated as International Mother Language day to celebrate cultural diversity and multilingualism.

On this Day in 1952 the Language Movement succeeded in forcing Pakistan to recognize the Bangla language as state language alongside Urdu. The day known as ‘Ekushey February’ is observed with solemnity all over the country with organisation of a host of linguistic and cultural events.

Emphasizing the strong cultural and linguistic bonds between Bangladesh and West Bengal, Mamata has proposed a series of steps including the construction of ‘Bangabandhu Baban’, a building named after Father of Bangla Nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and setting a Bangabandhu Chair in Kolkata University.

Pitching for joint cultural festivals for increasing cultural exchanges she proposed to organize Bangladesh’s first film festival in Kolkata soon.

She said her government will donate 500 books to Central Library of Bangladesh. India-Bangladesh relations, she said, will reach a new height for which she would act like a bridge.