Bangladesh to be a great country

War veterans from India and Russia who fought with bravery for liberating Bangladesh in 1971 on Thursday expressed their firm conviction that Bangladesh in the near future would be a great country in the global arena.
They also highly appreciated massive transformation of Bangladesh in various areas, including socioeconomic development, and wished every success of the country and its people to live as a victorious and dignified nation in the global arena.
War veterans said this in a reception accorded in their honour by prime minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganabhaban in the evening. 
A total of 29 war veterans from India and five from Russia and their spouses are now in the city to join the celebrations of the 46th Victory Day of Bangladesh.
Leader of the Indian delegation Lt Gen (retd) GS Sihota and leader of Russian delegation Kozhurin Victor, war veterans of India Brig (retd) Bhanot Madan Mohan, Air Commodore (retd) Chandra Mohan Singla, Vice Admiral (retd) Raman Prem Suthan spoke on the occasion.
Indian high commissioner in Bangladesh Harsh Vardhan Shringla and four serving military officers of India and officials of the India and Russian embassies and senior officials of the prime minister’s office were present. 
Kozhurin Victor shared his experience as a marine officer who took part in sweeping mines in the Chittagong Port after the independence. He presented a book written in Russian language on mine sweeping operation to the prime minister.
He wished to translate the book in Bangla and donate its proceeds for the welfare activities of the people of Bangladesh.
Recalling the war days in Bangladesh, Indian delegation head GS Sihota said when they landed today in Bangladesh, they saw a transformed nation.
Extending his heartfelt thanks to the prime minister for inviting them to join the Victory Day celebrations, he said they have brought here greetings from everybody in India and also from the defence forces of India. ‘We want to wish prosperity to the nation,’ he added.
Extending her thanks to the war veterans of India and Russia for coming to Bangladesh on the eve of the 46th Victory Day, the prime minister said, ‘We’ll always remember the contributions that you made 45 years back ...........the sacrifices that you made, our people will always remember that.’
She said after the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975, the country’s people could not talk about the history of War of Liberation as it was totally distorted.
She, however, said when her party assumed office in 1996 and she first became the prime minister, her government started the process of remembering the foreign friends who made immense contributions and sacrifices during the war of independence.
‘Once upon a time, it was all banned. But, now people, especially the younger generation, are very much enthusiastic and they want to know the real history.......we always tell them that you should build this country as a Golden Bangladesh,’ she added.
Hasina, the eldest child of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, recalled the contributions of India and Russia to building the war-ravaged country even after the War of Liberation.
Recalling her memory in captivity during the War of Liberation after Sheikh Mujib was arrested by the Pakistani forces, she said usually they do not have the opportunity to come out of the room of the house where she along with other members of her family were held captive.
But, she recalled that when there were airstrikes, they could hear the sounds and could see a little bit coming out of their rooms staying in that house in Dhanmondi.
The prime minister said although Bangladesh was liberated on December 16, they were freed from that captivity the next day as the Pakistani forces guarding that house then insisted saying ‘Niazi can surrender, but we won’t surrender.’
She said in the early morning on December 17, an Indian Army team, led by Major Ashok Tara, came to the house and forced the Pakistani force to surrender and they were released.
PM’s international affairs adviser Gowher Rizvi was present while former foreign minister Dipu Moni, MP, and Mahzabin Khaled, MP, spoke on the occasion.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net