Former
President of India Pranab Mukherjee concluded a private visit to
Bangladesh on Thursday by reaffirming his country's historic Dhaka-Delhi
friendship and goodwill and reiterated his personal affiliation with
our country.
The five-day visit is a milestone in itself that
the ex-president and senior Indian leader chose Bangladesh for his first
foreign trip after his five-year term as President - like he did chose
Dhaka in 2013 as his first destination of foreign visit after being
elected Indian President five years ago.
Pranab Mukherjee, highly
revered as a clean, erudite, honest and unpretending Indian leader, has
always helped Bangladesh to sustain its democracy and move forward as a
developing country. He never hesitated to demonstrate his love for the
people of Bangladesh. He has a soft corner for Bangladesh as his wife
was born in Narail, a southern district of Bangladesh.
His visit
to Dhaka and Chittagong this week added significance that he was
conferred a D Litt degree by the Chittagong University and he addressed
a literary gathering in capital Dhaka. He was previously awarded
"Bangladesh Liberation War Honour Award" for his contribution to
our Liberation War in 1971. On June 15 in 1971 he moved a resolution in
India's Upper House to accord diplomatic recognition to the government
of Bangladesh in exile at Mujibnagar.
He met President Abdul
Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to discuss relations between his
country and Bangladesh now and in the past with due focus on the future.
He also recalled memories of Bangladesh's Father of the Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman whom he revered as the "best Bangali
of all times". When he called on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina he praised
her leadership for taking the country to the path of progress and
prosperity turning it as an attractive place for investment. Sheikh
Hasina hosted a luncheon at her official residence Ganabhaban in honour
of Pranab Mukherjee whom she respects as a father figure.
The
former Indian President has always been a friend of Bangladesh and well
wisher of its people. Bangladeshi politicians hold Pranab Mukherjee in
high esteem but unfortunately Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) once
dared to show disrespect to the highly revered Indian leader during his
first visit to Dhaka as President few years ago. BNP chief Khaleda Zia
abruptly and uncourteously cancelled a scheduled audience with the
Indian President which was shocking to diplomatic and political circles
in both the countries.
But Pranab Mukherjee took Begum Zia's
impoliteness with grace and did not let it to reflect on relations
between the two countries. This aptly showcased his extra-ordinary
political acumen and insight.
Pranab Mukherjee's five-day visit,
coordinated by the Indian High Commissioner and his High Commission,
has pushed Bangladesh's international image up, especially among the
South Asian neighbours, hence the people and government of Bangladesh
are thankful to the elderly Indian leader for his gesture.
We hope
he will visit Bangladesh again and again at his convenience and grace us
with his personal contact and report back to Indian leaders about
Bangladesh's march towards progress and prosperity. With this visit he
once again proved he is indeed a friend, philosopher and guide to
Bangladesh.
