WB CM meets Bangladesh PM at Ganabhavan, Dhaka

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee visited Ganabhaban earlier today to meet Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The West Bengal Chief Minister was there to attend a luncheon hosted in her honour. During the meeting, the two leaders discussed bilateral issues.

WB CM will join a conference organised by the entrepreneurs of Bangladesh and the West Bengal later today.

Improving the trade relations between the two neighboring countries, especially with Dhaka and West Bengal, will be discussed in the conference.

Later, the West Bengal Chief Minister will meet Bangladesh Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali at the state guest house Jamuna.

The WB Chief Minister and her delegation will leave Dhaka tonight.

The West Bengal Chief Minister also paid homage to the Bhasha Shahids at the Central Shaheed Minar in the early hours of Saturday.

WB CM pays homage at Dhaka Shahid Minar on 21 Feb

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee was present at Shahid Minar, Dhaka at midnight February 21, to pay her respectful homage on the International Mother Language Day on 21st February.

“It is one of the most memorable moments in my life to be present at Shadid Minar, I am overwhelmed and deeply touched with emotions to experience this historic moment,” she said.

The President of Bangladesh HE  JB Abdul Hamid and Hon’ble Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina were also present on the occasion.

The ceremony to pay homage to the martyrs of Bhasha Andolan began right after 12 midnight. The West Bengal Chief Minister paid respect with a bouquet of flowers with the words “আমার ভাইয়ের রক্তে রাঙানো একুশে ফেব্রুয়ারি, আমি কি ভুলিতে পারি …,” written on it.

WB CM said that it was her longtime wish to come to Bangladesh and pay tribute to the martyrs of Amar Ekush. She said that this was a matter of pride for her.

Earlier in the day she had paid tribute to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the  Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at 32 Dhanmandi.

WB CM also shared her experience on Twitter:

WB CM pays tribute to Bangabandhu at Dhanmandi

যতবার বাংলাদেশে আসবেন, ততবারই ধানমণ্ডির ৩২ নম্বর সড়কে বঙ্গবন্ধুর স্মৃতি বিজড়িত বাড়িটিতে আসবেন বলে জানিয়েছেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়।

মুখ্যমন্ত্রী সাংবাদিকদের বলেন, “এই দেশে আসব আর মুক্তি আন্দোলনের সবচেয়ে বড় পথিকৃত বঙ্গবন্ধুর বাড়িতে আসব না- সেটা কি করে হয়?”

মমতা বলেন, “এ বাড়ি দেখে বার বার মন খারাপ হয়ে যায়। একদিকে গুলির দাগ, রক্তের দাগ। এতোগুলো খুনের নিশানা দেখে মনটা খারাপ হয়ে যায়।”

এর আগে বাংলাদেশ সফরের কথা মনে করে মমতা সাংবাদিকদের বলেন, “আমি ১৯৯৮ সালে এখানে এসেছিলাম আওয়ামী লীগের একটি কনফারেন্সে। তখন শেখ হাসিনা প্রধানমন্ত্রী ছিলেন। ১৭ বছর আগে। তখনও এখানে এসেছিলাম। এর সাথে মুক্তি আন্দোলন, গণতন্ত্রের আন্দোলন- সব কিছু জড়িয়ে আছে।”

মমতা বলেন, “এই বাড়িটি একটি আবেগ প্লাবিত জায়গা। এখানেই বঙ্গবন্ধু শেষ নিঃশ্বাস ত্যাগ করেছিলেন। বঙ্গবন্ধু শেখ মুজিবুর রহমানের সঙ্গে সেদিন তার পরিবারের অনেকেই খুন হয়েছিলেন। তাদের রক্তমাখা চেহারা, রক্ত মাখা ফটোগুলো দেখা বিভীষিকাময়। এগুলো দেখে আমাদের গা শিউরে ওঠে।”

নতুন প্রজন্মের কাছে বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা সংগ্রামের ইতিহাস তুলে ধরার কথাও বলেন মমতা।

“অতীতকে স্মরণ করতে হয়। অতীতকে স্মরণ না করলে আমাদের প্রজন্ম জানবে কি করে মুক্তি আন্দোলনের কথা?”

১৯৭১ সালে বাংলাদেশের মুক্তিযুদ্ধের দিনগুলোর কথা স্মরণ করে তিনি বলেন, “আমাদের ওপার বাংলা থেকে এপার বাংলা- এখানে যখন মুক্তি আন্দোলন চলছিল, তখন তাদের প্রত্যেক কথা, গান, স্লোগান, বঙ্গবন্ধুর বক্তব্য আমাদের আবেগ জুড়ে ছিল।”

একুশের প্রথম প্রহরে তিনি কেন্দ্রীয় শহীদ মিনারে গিয়ে ১৯৫২ সালের ভাষা শহীদদের প্রতি শ্রদ্ধা জানাবেন।

WB CM Ms Mamata Banerjee today visited the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at 32 Dhanmandi. She said that her visit to Bangladesh would be incomplete without visiting this iconic house.

She was visibly sentimental. She said, “Bangabandhu breathed his last in this house. The bullet marks make me sad.”

She added that Bangabandhu was attached to the nostalgia of every Bengali.

Later in the evening WB CM posted on her social media pages:

“This evening I went to pay my homage to Banga Bandhu Memorial Museum at 32 Dhanmandi.

To me, and to all of us in this sub-continent, he has been a lingering inspiration in our quest to uphold our freedom and our love for the mother tongue.

Banga Bandhu Shekh Mujibar Rahaman was the chief architect of the independent Bangladesh. As the father of the nation, he brought due respect and glory to Bengali language from all over the world.

In the memory of this great soul, I bow with reverence and respect.”

Baithaki Bangla to strengthen cultural ties between two sides of Bengal: WB CM

WB CM Ms Mamata Banerjee arrived at Dhaka yesterday after 17 long years to attend the Bhasa Divas ceremony.

She has been invited as the chief guest of the ceremony by the Bangladesh Government. This is her first visit to Bangladesh as the Chief Minister of West Bengal.

 

Stregthening cultural ties 

‘Baithaki Bangla’ was the first engagement of the Chief Minister which was a platform for interaction between the luminaries of both the countries from the world of literature, drama, music. She would be later meeting the President and the Prime Minister of Bangladesh during her stay.

The cultural fraternity of both sides of Bengal met and discussed how to strengthen cultural ties and standing relations between West Bengal and Bangladesh.

Rising above borders 

WB CM Ms Mamata Banerjee called this initiative as a ‘meeting of minds’. At Baithaki Bangla, the CM said that no border in the world can divide the hearts of two Bengals. She proposed a series of steps to cement the cultural bond between her state and Bangladesh, including the construction of a “Bangabandhu Bhaban”, a building to be named after the country’s founder Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

“Political geography has divided us, but there is no division in our two minds. I feel proud to be a part of the Bhasa Divas celebration,” she said during her interaction with litterateurs and cultural figures.

 

Here is what she tweeted after Baithaki Bangla: 

 

Warm welcome for West Bengal Chief Minister at Dhaka

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee received a red carpet welcome in Dhaka on Thursday when Bangladeshi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mr Shahriar Alam received her at the airport

The West Bengal Chief Minister expressed hope that her Dhaka tour would further strengthen ties between Bangladesh and her state and promote business between the two sides. “I will carry to Bangladesh the message of enhanced trade links and other exchanges between West Bengal and Bangladesh,” she told in Kolkata.

Across the border, too, her three-day visit has rekindled hope. “We hope that with this visit a conducive environment will be created to resolve the pending issues between Dhaka and Delhi,” Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mr Shahriar Alam told on the eve of West Bengal Chief Minister’s visit. “Legally, the bilateral issues are to be resolved by the central governments. But we believe her visit will make it easier to resolve outstanding issues in the future,” he added.

Bangladeshi media, too, hailed the West Bengal Chief Minister’s visit. The Bangladesh Observer headlined its report ‘Mamata’s visit to expedite settling pending issues’, while the Prothom Alo headline read ‘Mamata comes to repair relationship’.

The West Bengal Chief Minister’s made it clear that her opposition to the land boundary agreement, which will lead to the transfer of enclaves, is a thing of the past. “As you know, we have made our position clear. I have been there (to these enclaves) personally. We have sent a proposal to the Centre. It isn’t only a question of 17,000 acres of land. But it is about rehabilitating people, ensuring their livelihood. I would say it is positive,” she added.

On Bangladesh Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali’s invitation, the West Bengal Chief Minister is scheduled join the Language Day ceremony at midnight on February 20 with the president at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka. They will lay wreaths in memory of 1952 language movement martyrs who laid down their lives demanding Bengali be the state language in the erstwhile Pakistan. Mamata may visit Bangobondhu Sk Mujibur Rehman’s birthplace to pay her respects. She is set to meet the Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on February 21.

The West Bengal Chief Minister is also expected to address a business event to be organized by the India Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Indian Chamber of Commerce. Ms Mamata Banerjee will lead a 39-member delegation with the aim of increasing trade and investment between Bengal and Bangladesh.

Foreign delegates all praise for Bengal at Global Business Summit

Bengal Global Business Summit started on a positive note. After the hugely successful morning session where the captains of the industry hailed Bengal, in the afternoon delegates from more than 20 countries participated in the Bengal Global Business Summit and praised about the growth of Bengal.

The participating countries include United States, United Kingdom, Japan, China, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Luxembourg and Australia.

Here is what they said:

  • UKIBC Chair Patricia Hewitt: I invite the Hon. Chief Minister to visit England. I am here to promote B2B – not just Business to Business but Britain 2 Bengal.
  • The Global CEO of Mitsubishi Chemicals: The special affinity between the people of Bengal and Japan continues. We have had privilege of meeting the Honourable CM whenever there was a need and received her support and assistance. I sincerely hope this Summit will be a new dawn in Japan-Bengal relations.
  • Representatives of Changi International Airport: We will continue our relationship with West Bengal. We will continue our relationship with West Bengal.
  • Representative from the USA: We will continue our relationship with West Bengal. My wife and I want to start a Baul village in Bolpur.
  •  Representatives of Scomi group: West Bengal worked very fast to respond to our request. That is why we are here today. West Bengal worked very fast to respond to our request. That is why we are here today. We are looking forward to forge new relationships
  • The South Korean Ambassador:  We are witnessing a very positive change happening in West Bengal. Bengal is destined to become a major hub of Eastern India. State has all that it takes to become an investor-destination. The business-friendly measures taken by WB Govt will help the State in becoming a major investment destination. As Ambassador I would like to see Korean investment increasing in West Bengal. There is a scope for West Bengal and Korea to partner in the SME sector.
  • Business Delegation from Bangladesh: I am accompanying more than 25 entrepreneurs who would love to invest in West Bengal. West Bengal can be our backward link in export of garments and raw materials. The first private sector industrial park by Bangladesh will be set up in Kolkata. Didi is coming to Dhaka in February. We wish to hold a business meet during the visit.
  • Delegate from Kunming, China addressed issues on trade imbalances.
  • President of the Nepal Chamber of Commerce: Bengal and Nepal share a traditional and historical friendship. We request the Honourable Chief Minister to visit Nepal.

 

Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee addressed the Bengal Global Business Summit at the end of the first day. She took the opportunity to thank all the foreign delegates and the captains of the Industry. Here is what she said:

  • The main message today was ‘come to Bengal, ride the growth.’
  • Our infrastructure is ready. Our resources are ready. Our labour is ready.
  • 14 speakers addressed the morning session and 10 speakers spoke in the afternoon.
  • Discussion will continue tomorrow morning. Any clarification can be taken care of, by officials.
  • I salute my captains of industry. New things are happening in Bengal. This is a Beautiful Bengal.
  • Union Minister Gadkari ji announced projects worth Rs 21000 crore. SAIL announced projects worth Rs 40000 crore.
  • Bengal is always environment-friendly.Thank you to all the delegates who have come here.
  • To all the delegates, my message is, we are deeply obliged.
mamata bangladesh

WB CM to attend Bhasa Divas celebration in Dhaka as Guest of Honour

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee has accepted an invitation from Bangladesh government to participate in the Bhasa Divas celebrations in Dhaka on February 21 as guest of honour.

Bangladesh deputy high commissioner Zokey Ahad called on the CM at her office at Nabanna on Monday to hand over the written invitation from Bangladesh foreign minister A H Mahmood Ali. WB CM readily agreed.

“I have accepted the invitation and am happy and overjoyed with it. I love Bangladesh and its people. We were one people till Partition. We all have an emotional attachment with Bangladesh and if the people of Bangladesh are happy, we’re also happy. It is mutually beneficial to have good ties with each other,” the chief minister told a newpaper on Monday evening.

Mamata recalled that she was the one to start ‘Bhasa Divas’ celebrations in Kolkata when she was a Lok Sabha MP, with money from her MP local area development fund. It has since become an annual feature in Bengal and Kolkata Municipal Corporation now funds the celebrations in Kolkata, she said.

GOI must take steps to expedite release of Bengali fishermen arrested by Bangladesh

Bangladesh authorities have been seizing and confiscating several registered Indian fishing trawlers in Bay of Bengal on the pretext of violating International Maritime Border Line.

132 fishermen from West Bengal to been arrested by Bangladesh authorities and kept in Bagherhat jail in Khulna division since October this year. The fishermen were unaware of the new re-alignment of the maritime border between the two countries.

Realignment of maritime border

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on December 2, 2014, spoke to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to initiate the process of bringing back fishermen who have been captured in Bangladesh owing to the change in Indo-Bangla martime border after the verdict of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) was passed in July earlier this year.

Principal Secretary of the Fisheries Department, Syed Ahmed Baba stated that protocol requires a 3 month cooling off period after the verdict is passed, during which there cannot be any action taken against cross border trawlers on the basis of the order. After this period, the Energy Maritime Association (EMA) is supposed to notify on the redrawn maritime border and give appropriate time to such trawlers to return to their respective countries.

Centre must take immediate action

19,000 sq km of exclusive economic maritime zone where Indian fishermen would cast their nets, which was handed over to Bangladesh about five months ago to bring an end to a 40-year-old dispute between the two countries, has negatively resulted in families of the 132 fishermen in Khulna jail, spending sleepless nights.

It is difficult to free these guiltless fishermen unless the Foreign Ministry sends a message explaining what had led to the error. We demand immediate steps from the Government of India to have a dialogue with the Bangladesh Government for the release of fishermen and trawlers.