Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina jointly inaugurate Bangladesh Bhawan at Shanti Niketan in West Bengal; PM Modi Says India and Bangladesh bound together by values and the Bangla Bhavan is a reflection of Tagore’s ideas and vision.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, attended the convocation ceremony of Viswa-Bharati University in Santi Niketan. He was welcomed by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee at the helipad.
The Prime Minister received his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina on the Santi Niketan campus. The two leaders then paid floral tributes to Rabindra Nath Tagore. PM Modi and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina shared their thoughts in the visitors book.
Enthusiatic crowds gave the two leaders a traditional welcome as they took the dias for the Convocation ceremony. And the two leaders reciprocated the warmth. Prime minister of Bangladesh, Sheikha Hasina and PM Modi as well as West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee shared the dias at the convocation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared the convocation ceremony open after which Vedic hymns were chanted as per tradition.
Addressing the function, PM Modi said that Gurudev believed that education helps in overall enhancement of personality of an individual. He said Gurudev believed that the world was one, a teaching found in the Vedas too. PM also said that, concept of Globalisation, which we see today, was the essence of Gurudev’s teaching.
PM also said that this is the first time in Indian history, that two prime ministers attended a convocation ceremony. PM said that the interests of India and Bangladesh are closely linked with each others.
Prime Minister said that in line with the vision of Gurudev, govt is making all attempts to realise the dream of a New India. He said that institutions like Santi Niketan and the youth power they nurture play a huge role in achieving this vision.
After his address as the Chancellor of the University, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared the Convocation ceremony closed.
The two prime ministers also inaugurated Bangladesh Bhavan, which has been set up on the university campus. It is a symbol of the cultural ties between the two countries. It was built at a cost of Rs. 25 crore, which was provided by the Bangladesh government. A fund of Rs. 10 crore would be given to help to maintain the museum premises. The building has been constructed by National Building Construction Corporation
After the inauguration the two leaders took a look at the model of the Bangladesh Bhavan. The red and yellow two storey building has a glass roof so that the centrally airconditioned building can get direct sunlight from above. It features a museum that showcases Rabindranath Tagore’s association with the country, the Liberation War of Bangladesh and Indo-Bangla relations.
PM Modi said that the Bangladesh Bhavan is a symbol of the symbiotic relations India and Bangladesh share.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that Bangladesh never forgets India’s major role in extending support and cooperation during Bangladesh’s freedom struggle.
