Bangladesh needs Indian support to curb hostile forces

Agartala, March 18: Bangladesh needs active support from the Indian government to curb activities of inimical elements and hostile outfits active in the country, Bangladesh Liberation War Affairs Minister A.K.M. Mozammel Haque has said.

"The Bangladesh government and its people still require all-out support and help from the Indian government and its people to deal with the actions of inimical elements and hostile outfits active in the country," Haque said while addressing a book release programme here on Thursday night.

"The forces which do not want independent Bangladesh are still active in various conspiracies against the Awami League-led government. They are hatching diverse violent activities to disturb peace and development of Bangladesh," the visiting minister said.

He said: "The anti-liberation forces were active for 30 years even after independent Bangladesh emerged in 1971. The former Bangladesh governments headed by former presidents Ziaur Rahman and H.M. Ershad and former prime minister Khaleda Zia nurtured the anti-liberation forces for 30 years."

The minister said Dhaka would remain ever grateful to India for providing food and shelter to one crore hapless Bangladeshis, giving arms training and supplying arms and ammunition to the "Mukti Joddhas" (freedom fighters) to fight against the Pakistani forces in the 1971 Liberation War.

He said Bangladesh would remain grateful to the Indian soldiers who fought and sacrificed their lives for the liberation of Bangladesh.

"Our government has already decided to hold commemorative ceremonies in eight places in India to honour the martyrs. We have also decided to offer financial support to the families of those slain Indian Army men," Haque added.

Haque, along with Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, released two books written on founder of Bangladesh Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, popularly known as "Bangabandhu".

Renowned Indian writer and researcher Debabrata Deb wrote the two books on the life, works and leadership of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, whose 97th birthday was also celebrated here on Thursday.

IANS