WB CM invites His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo to Bengal

WB CM invites His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo to Bengal

Posted on October 7, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

AgnivoNiyogi | Thimphu

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee was invited for a luncheon audience with His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo and their Majesties the Queen Mothers at Dechenchholing Palace.

“It is a great honour. I was delighted to meet The Royal Family,” she wrote on her Facebook page.

She further wrote: “It was an excellent meeting where I took the opportunity to place before His Majesty our commitment to further enrich our cordial relations with Bhutan and work towards economic prosperity of the region. I found His Majesty well informed about the progress and growth of Bengal during the last four years of our Government.”

We are indeed grateful to His Majesty and the Royal Family for the courtesies extended to us, the Chief Minister told media persons in Thimphu. The Chief Minister said she extended an invited to His Majesty to visit West Bengal.

Bengal-Bhutan to form joint committee to study flooding of north Bengal

Posted on October 7, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

AgnivoNiyogi | Thimphu

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee today met the Hon’ble Minister of Foreign Affairs at the Parliament House of Bhutan. In the meeting, which lasted for 20 minutes, several issues were discussed.

“We discussed all the issues that were discussed earlier also,” she told reporters here.

“We want our ties of friendship to continue. We want our relationship with Bhutan to become stronger,” the Chief Minister said.

In the meeting the issue of flooding in north Bengal was raised. She said that Bhutan government had agreed to form a joint committee to inspect the reasons due to which vast areas of north Bengal get flooded every year.

Another important issue that was discussed was the rising levels of dolomite in water bodies in Jayanti, leading to alkalinity.

Bhutan witnesses the warmth and simplicity of Didi

Posted on October 7, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

AgnivoNiyogi | Thimphu

The Prime Minister of Bhutan had said it on Day 1. Bhutan remained witness to Didi’s simplicity and humility on the third day of her visit too.

In her quintessential Hawaii chappals and tant saree, West Bengal Chief Minister embarked upon her routine morning walk on the streets of Thimphu. Despite her packed schedule, she had squeezed time out for her walk today. During her walk, a Bengali family from North 24 Parganas met her and were floored by her charm and warmth.

“We feel our lives have become special. It was great meeting the Chief Minister of your state and having a photograph clicked with her,” said a female member of the group of tourists. A lady, who sells handicrafts on the road right next to the hotel where the CM is staying, echoed her sentiments. She was surprised that a Chief Minister could be so simple and humble.

And not just tourists or local vendors. Even the media delegation visiting Bhutan along with the CM was witness to her kindness. A senior journalist was taken ill and had to be hospitalised; Didi personally visited him and enquired about his health.

Even the writer of this post was witness to a scene where a senior journalist was complaining of cold and out came a tablet from Jangalmahal – Didi’s bag, her companion of all times.

You can take Didi out of Kolkata, but you can never take simplicity and humility out of Didi.

Mamata Banerjee in Bhutan: Facebook post by Didi on Day 2

Posted on October 7, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

On the evening of 6^th of October, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made a post on Facebook summarizing her meeting with His Highness, King of Bhutan. In her post, she stated that she was honoured to “to have an audience with His Majesty, the King of Bhutan and Her Majesty in Lingkhana Palace”. She also added that she was overwhelmed at the warmth and courtesies extended by the King and the Royal Family.
Here is the post made by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Facebook:

It was an honour for me to have an audience with His Majesty, the King of Bhutan and Her Majesty in Lingkhana Palace today.

The warmth and courtesies extended by the King and the Royal Family was indeed overwhelming.

I took the opportunity to place before His Highness how our state and our country valued the warm and cordial relationship with Bhutan.

I submitted to His Highness our proposals on setting up of business, economic,cultural, and Tourism corridors with Bhutan that will greatly enhance economic activity in the region.

It was an amazing experience to visit the great country of Bhutan and we expressed our deep gratitude to His Highness and his Royal Government.

Seeking the blessings of Goddess Tara for Maa, Mati, Manush

Posted on October 6, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Agnivo Niyogi | Thimphu

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee today offered prayers at the Tara Lhaden Zhingkham Lhakhang Temple, wishing for the well-being of Maa, Mati, Manush of Bengal. Members of the business delegation also lighted lamps to pray for the prosperity of Bengal and Bhutan.

Buddhism is the state religion of Bhutan and shapes the everyday lives of the Bhutanese. In Bhutan, no temple existed which was dedicated solely to the Goddess Tara (female Buddha in Vajrayana Buddhism).

She is known as the “mother of liberation” and represents the virtues of success in work and achievements. Under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen Mother Sangay Choden Wangchuck, a temple dedicated to the Tara was constructed in Thimphu to generate tremendous positive Karma benefiting all sentient beings and bringing unwavering peace and happiness to Bhutan and the world as a whole.

King of Bhutan confident Mamata Banerjee will win 2016 polls because of good work

Posted on October 6, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Agnivo Niyogi | Thimphu

Expressing his confidence that Mamata Banerjee will come back to power in 2016 for a second term, the King of Bhutan expressed his desire to visit Kolkata next year to congratulate Mamata Banerjee.

Praising the Chief Minister for the good work and developmental initiatives in the last five years, the King also thanked Mamata Banerjee for visiting Bhutan on his request.

The Chief Minister, currently on a four-day trip to Bhutan, today had an audience with HE The King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. She also said that the King wanted a signed copy of a book penned by the CM.

Clearly, Didi has been winning hearts in Bhutan.

Didi – A lucky mascot for Bhutan

Posted on October 6, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Agnivo Niyogi | Thimphu

Just like Bengalis consider the ‘Lokkhi Pencha’ (barn owl) a lucky charm that brings with it the sign of progress and prosperity, the eagle is seen as a lucky mascot in Bhutan. And when an eagle decides to perch on top of the house of none other than His Highness the King of Bhutan, it is undoubtedly a positive sign.

Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, visited the Royal Palace this afternoon to meet His Majesty and his family. As luck would have it, an eagle came and perched itself on the roof of the palace the moment she arrived.

Didi, who was recounting this experience, said that the ‘lucky’ bird flew away just when her delegation was leaving.

Incidentally, Mamata Banerjee has been conferred titles like ‘Goddess of Prosperity’ and ‘Goddess of Knowledge’ by Tamang and Lepcha groups residing in Darjeeling. Clearly her lucky charm has spread to the neighbouring country as well.

Bengal and Bhutan to be ‘Business Partners’

Posted on October 6, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Agnivo Niyogi | Thimphu

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee today said that Bengal and Bhutan will become ‘business partners’ after a meeting His Excellency The King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.

She said that in a meeting with the PM earlier she said consented to Bengal being used as a corridor for Bhutan to export potatoes and dolomite.

The issue of flooding in north Bengal was taken up in her meeting with the King; His Majesty assured the Bengal CM that a committee will be set up to investigate whether flooding of north Bengal is because of natural or technical reasons.

The Chief Minister said that a series of discussions happened across various sectors from agro-marketing to tourism and transport. She said the King was extremely happy to have learned that Bengal Govt has started an LTC scheme for employees wherein a trip to Bhutan would be included.

Earlier in the day the transport secretary, in the presence of CM, had said that Bhutan Airlines was keen on strengthening air-ties with Bengal and was interested in making Andal a pit stop for flights to Bangkok.

The secretaries of various departments, business delegates from India and Bhutan attended the India-Bhutan Business Conclave for the second day today.

We discussed various areas of Bhutan-Bengal collaboration: Mamata Banerjee

Posted on October 6, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

On the the first day of her visit to Bhutan, West Bengal Chief Minister held meeting with the Hon’ble Prime Minister of Bhutan and attended the India-Bhutan Business Conclave.

Here is the full Facebook post by the West Bengal Chief Minister:

“On the invitation of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of Bhutan, I have come to Thimphu today.

My colleagues Gautam Deb, Aroop Biswas, Chief Secretary and senior officials of the state government have accompanied me.

I had a meeting with the Hon’ble Prime Minister where we discussed at length various areas of Bhutan-Bengal collaboration and other important issues.

The talks were very cordial and positive. I invited the Hon’ble Prime Minister to the Bengal Global Business Summit to be held in Kolkata during 8th and 9th January, 2016. I also requested him to send a delegation from Bhutan to the North Bengal Business Summit to be held on 19th November, 2015.

Later in the evening a Business Conclave participated by a high-level delegation from ICC and captains of industry and business of Bhutan was held.

We deliberated on the prospects of Bhutan-Bengal business possibilities. We shared with them the achievements of our government in the economic front and the ease of doing business in Bengal.

I have mentioned setting up of dedicated business corridor with Bhutan and other neighbouring countries through extensive development of road connectivity.

I have also mentioned about development of economic and transport corridor linking Bhutan, Bangladesh, India and Nepal. A Protocol on this will soon be signed in West Bengal.

For the land-locked country like Bhutan, it will open connectivity with Bangladesh through India/Bengal which can boost trade and commerce. It will also give to the people of Bhutan greater access to healthcare and education opportunities in Bengal and beyond and flourish tourism opportunities.

It was an excellent session with positive ideas and exchanges. This will pave way for greater economic co-operation and more business opportunities between Bengal and Bhutan in the coming days.

My best wishes to everyone.“

Mamata Banerjee – ‘Didi’ of Bhutan

Posted on October 6, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

By Agnivo Niyogi | Thimphu

In India, everyone calls her Didi. On Monday, she won hearts and became ‘Didi’ of the people of Bhutan – all thanks to her simplicity and humility.

Although Mamata Banerjee occupies the high chair of the Chief Minister, she has always said that she is nothing but a commoner. This was reflected in Bhutan also from the moment she stepped into the country.

The warmth was showing in her meeting with the Prime Minister of Bhutan, His Excellency Tshering Tobgay. The meeting began with the PM sharing anecdotes of his student days when he studied at Dr Graham’s Home in Bengal. He even broke protocol to walk the CM till her car and fondly addressed her as Didi.

The camaraderie was also visible when His Excellency Lyonpo Norbu Wangchuk, the Minister for Economic Affairs said: “Mamata Banerjee is our Didi. She is very popular in Bhutan. We know about her struggle right from starting her own party to coming to power wearing just a simple saree and hawai chappals.”

Didi also got a thundering applause at the India-Bhutan Business Conclave when she greeted the audience with “Ku Ju Jangpo” (Good Evening) and “Tasidela” (Thank You). Her firm determination to foster stronger business ties between Bhutan and Bengal impressed the delegates at the conclave.

The high point of the day was probably when the Prime Minister made an unscheduled visit in the evening to the hotel where the Chief Minister was staying.

Clearly, Didi has made a lasting mark in the hearts of the people of Bhutan.