'Powerful nations are trying to spoil Indo-Bangla relations'

There are some powerful nations who are trying to hamper the cordial relationship between neighbours Bangladesh and India, said Biman Banerjee, speaker of the legislative assembly of West Bengal state in India. Speaking to reporters at Barisal Circuit House on Thursday, the Indian politican said: “All of you know well about the role of India and its government during the Liberation War of Bangladesh. Since then, many governments have changed in both the countries, but the relationship between the two countries have remained strong and it will become stronger in the future. “However, some powerful nations are trying to create a make break ups between this relationship, and I think it would not be successful, the WB speaker told. Banerjee arrived in Barisal on Thursday afternoon on a three-day visit to his ancestral home with his wife Nandita Banerjee. Later at night, he spoke to the local reporters. “The sisterly relationship between Mamata Banerjee and Sheikh Hasina persists and it will continue to do so as there is no bilateral conflict between West Bengal and Bangladesh. The West Bengal chief minister always wishes to see happiness and prosperity of Bangladesh and its people,” he told the reporters. Asked about the dispute regarding Teesta water sharing, the West Bengal Legislative Assembly speaker said it was a matter of national interest and the state chief minister had already made her views on the matter clear. About the ongoing Rohingya crisis, the chief Minister has already said it was a humanitarian issue, Banerjee further added. The Indian politician further stressed the importance of more cultural exchange programmes between the two sides of the border. “Outside of West Bengal, Tripura and parts of Assam, Bangla language and literature is not in practice in India. Bangladesh has progress a long way in terms of honouring the Bangla language and culture by ensuring international recognition for the language and enriching it along the way,” he added. On Friday, Banerjee and his wife went out to have a look around the city. The couple visited Saint Anne’s Medical Centre, popularly known as Douglas Boarding, near the Oxford Mission Church, they found the records of his birth with his mother Mahamaya Banerjee's named recorded on August 30, 1945. Banerjee also visited his ancestral house Firoja Manzil in front of BM College, which used to be owned by his father Prantosh Banerjee and grandfather Satish Chandra Banerjee. Both Banerjee's father and grandfather were students of BM College and practised law in Barisal District Bar before moving to the West Bengal after the Partition. The West Bengal speaker also visited the house of Ashwini Datta, the socio-political leader of British India, which is now owned by Government Barisal College. He also visited other historical places such as the Kalibari of Mukunda Das, the great crematorium, and the Manasa Mandir at Goila. Banerjee, also an elected member of legislative assembly (MLA) from Pashchim Baroipur constituency in West Bengal, will leave Barisal on Saturday to attend the 63rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Conference in Dhaka, which is progress.