BSS, Gopalganj :
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said both India and Bangladesh want to see peace, stability and love in the world instead of instability, terror, and unrest.
“Both India and Bangladesh want to see the world advancing through their own progress.
Both the nations want to see stability, love, and peace in the world instead of instability, terror, and unrest,” he said while addressing a function arranged by the Matua community at Orakandi under Kashiani upazila in the district.
The Indian premier offered prayers at a Matua temple in Orakandi, the birthplace of Hindu mystic figure and Matua community’s spiritual guru Harichand Thakur.
Speaking at the ceremony,the Indian prime minister said that he always wants to visit the temple.
“During my 2015 visit (to Bangladesh) as the premier, I expressed my wish to visit Orakandi, and today that wish has come true,” Modi said.
“Today, with the grace of Sri Sri Harichand Thakur ji, I have got the privilege to pray at this holy place of Orakandi Thakurbari. I bow down at the feet of Sri Sri Harichand Thakur ji,” he said.
The Indian premier said: “I feel like that what my thousands of brothers and sisters of ‘Matua Shompradai’living in India deem when they come to Orakandi.”
He went on saying: “When I went to Thakurnagar in West Bengal, my Matua brothers and sisters loved me as a family member.
Especially the love ‘Boro Maa’ showed me, was precious moments in my life,” he said.
Modi said his government is making efforts to make this pilgrimage easier for people in India. “We’re also committed to organizing big events and various functions reflecting the glorious history of the Matua sect in Thakurnagar,” he said.
The Indian premier said India and Bangladesh are now touching new dimensions of development with the same mantras. He said India is the partner of Bangladesh’s development and progress.
“Today, both India and Bangladesh are strongly facing Corona,”he said adding that India-made vaccines have reached the citizens of Bangladesh as well,India is doing it as its duty.
About his participation in the grand celebration of birth centenary of Bangabandhu and the golden jubilee of independence of Bangladesh, Modi said: “I joined Bangladesh’s national programme with greetings of 130 crore people of India”.
He extended congratulations and greetings to the people of Bangladesh for its 50 years of independence.
The Indian premier said Harichand Thakur worked for the empowerment of women.
“Today the womenfolk across the world have been empowered,” he said.
Pointing out Harichand Thakur’s work and struggle for repressed people, Modi said today both India and Bangladesh have many challenges which should be faced following the ideology of the spiritual leader.
The Indian prime minister reached Orakandi around 12:30pm by a helicopter after visiting the Mausoleum of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Tungipara in the district.
He entered Harichand Guruchand Thakur temple at 12.42pm where the priest welcomed the Indian premier.
Then Modi offered puja and prayers at the temple as well as performed the rituals for around 10 minutes.
Awami League (AL) Presidium Member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, MP, AL Presidium Member Muhammad Faruk Khan, MP, Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque, Indian lawmaker Shantanu Thakur and Bangladesh Matua Mahasangha President Sima Devi Thakur were present, among others, to welcome the Indian prime minister.
UNB adds: Bangladesh and India on Saturday signed five MoUs to enhance cooperation in various sectors, including disaster management, resilience and mitigation, trade, ICT and sports.
They are, MoU on Disaster Management, Resilience and Mitigation, MoU between Bangladesh National Cadet Corps (BNCC) and National Cadet Corps of India (INCC) and MoU on the Establishment of a Framework of Cooperation in the Area of Trade Remedial Measures between Bangladesh and India.
Besides, a tripartite MoU on Supply of ICT equipment, courseware and reference books and training for Bangladesh-Bharat Digital Service & Employment and Training (BDSET) Centre and another tripartite MoU on Establishment of Sports facilities in Rajshahi College field and surrounding areas.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi witnessed the MoU exchange ceremony after the bilateral talks between Bangladesh and India that took place at the Prime Minister’s Office.
Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram Kumar Doraiswami and Secretary to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief of Bangladesh Md Mohsin exchanged the MoU on Disaster Management, Resilience and Mitigation on behalf of the respective governments.
Director General of Bangladesh National Cadet Corps Brigadier General Nahidul Islam Khan and High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh Vikram Kumar Doraiswami exchanged the MoU between Bangladesh National Cadet Corps and National Cadet Corps of India.
The Indian High Commissioner and Commerce Secretary Dr Md Jafar Uddin exchanged the MoU on the Establishment of a Framework of Cooperation in the Area of Trade Remedial Measures between Bangladesh and India.
Senior Secretary to the Information and Communication Technology Division of the Posts, Telecommunication and Information Technology Ministry Bangladesh NM Zeaul Alam and Vikram K Doraiswami exchanged the MoU on Supply of ICT equipment, courseware and reference books and training for Bangladesh-Bharot Digital Service & Employment and Training (BDSET) Centre.
The Indian High Commissioner and Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division of the Ministry of Education of Bangladesh Md Mahbub Hossain exchanged the MoU on Establishment of Sports Facilities in Rajshahi College field and surrounding areas” on behalf of their respective governments.
