UNB :
Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and Delhi University on Monday signed an MoU to set up ‘Bangabandhu Chair’ at the university to honour Father of the Nation and the greatest Bengali of all times Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The decision for establishing the chair was taken during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh in March 2021.
The development, however, coincides with the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh’s independence and Bangladesh-India diplomatic relations.
Director General of ICCR Dinesh K Patnaik and Vice-Chancellor of Delhi University Prof PC Joshi signed the MoU on behalf of their respective
sides at a ceremony at ICCR in Azad Bhavan in New Delhi in the evening.
President of ICCR Vinay Sahasrabuddhe and Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Muhammad Imran witnessed the signing ceremony when senior officials of the mission and Indian Ministry of External Affairs were present.
Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla sent a message on the occasion. Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram Doraiswami joined the programme virtually from Dhaka.
As per the MoU, a foreign visiting professor or a subject expert on Bangladesh is likely to be a person of Bangladeshi origin who will be occupying the “chair”.
The key focus of establishment of the chair will be on the shared cultural heritage of India and Bangladesh with subjects like Anthropology, Buddhist Studies, Geography, History, Music, Fine Arts and Political Science.
Speaking on the occasion, the ICCR President said: “We’re proud to establish ‘Bangabandhu Chair’ at Delhi University in memory of an undisputed leader like Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Muhammad Imran said there is no doubt that the establishment of ‘Bangabandhu Chair’ is a timely initiative.
“I hope that it will immensely contribute to broaden our scope for intellectual and academic exchanges and intensify people to people contact. It would hopefully bridge the gap of information about today’s Bangladesh and her people – the unique history, determination and struggle for emancipation and independence, the recent economic achievements, the emerging soft power, the secular ideology, and overall future of the country,” he said.
