Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday recalled the contributions of several thousands of Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lives during Bangladesh’s great War of Liberation in 1971 with due respect and gratitude, reports BSS from Noakhali. “Several thousands of Indian soldiers had shed their blood for the cause of Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War...we are indebted to them...we never forget their sacrifice,” he said.
The minister was addressing a function following inauguration of the newly constructed school building of Gandhi Memorial Institute at Gandhi Ashram in Joyag under Sonaimuri upazila of the district as the chief guest.
Describing India as a friendly country of Bangladesh, Quader underscored the importance of solving all outstanding issues with India through negotiation as a “positive diplomatic partnership” has been developed with the neibouring India.
He said that Bangladesh and India would work together to fight against terrorism and militancy for the greater interest of the two nations. Earlier, the Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader and Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Harsh Vardhan Shringla jointly inaugurated the building at Gandhi Ashram premises at Jayag in the district.
The school building has been constructed as a part of the Gandhi Ashram Trust (GAT) development project with the financial support of Gandhi Heritage Sites Mission (GHSM) of the ministry of culture, India.
The total cost of development project is Taka 6.84 crores. Up-gradation of Ashram’s museum and construction of an office-cum-residence of Secretary of Gandhi Ashram Trust are also part of the development project.
Assistant High Commissioner of India in Chittagong, Somnath Halder, President of Gandhi Ashram Trust Debapriya Bhattacharya, Secretary, Gandhi Ashram Trust Padmashri Jharna Dhara Chowdhury, Trust member Md. Misbah Uddin Siraj and Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet Badre Munir Firdaus, among others, were addressed the function.