National
Tripura CM urges Bangladesh to open Chittagong port for northeast
Chottakhola (Tripura), Dec 16 (IANS) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar on Saturday urged the Bangladesh government to allow India’s northeastern states to use the Chittagong port for the development of the landlocked region.
“Sidelining the pending unresolved issues between the two countries, Bangladesh must allow the northeastern states of India to use the Chittagong international seaport to carry goods, foodgrains, transport fuel, essentials and other items to and from northeastern states and rest of the world,” he said.
Without referring to the unresolved Teesta water sharing and trade related issues, he asked the Bangladesh government not to mix up the issues of northeastern states with the other unsettled issues between the two neighbours.
The Chief Minister was speaking at this border village, 132 km south of state capital Agartala, before a huge gathering assembled in connection with the opening of a “gigantic memorial and park” built in memory of the Indian soldiers and Bangladeshi freedom fighters, who sacrificed their lives during the 1971 Liberation War.
After eight-year-long unrelenting efforts, the memorial and park has been built on 20.20 hectares land comprising valleys and plains at Chottakhola (in southern Tripura bordering eastern Bangladesh) at a cost of Rs 7 crore (over $1 million).
“The nine-month long conflict supported by Indian soldiers and backed and encouraged by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi would remain as an exceptional valour in world history,” the Tripura Chief Minister noted.
He said that for the economic development of India’s northeastern states, rail, road, air, water and telecommunication connectivity between India and Bangladesh must be further strengthened.
Sarkar, a Communist Party of India-Marxist politburo member, said that during the Bangladesh Liberation War (March to December 1971) the then Congress government in the state led by former Chief Minister Sachindralal Singh played a significant role in providing shelter and relief to lakhs of hapless people who fled the war and took shelter in India’s bordering states, specially Tripura.
Tripura Health and PWD Minister Badal Choudhury addressing the function said that India wants more closeness with its best neighbour Bangladesh.
“During the nine-month long Liberation War, Tripura played a crucial role as the state’s location was strategically vital. Dhaka is just 135 km from Tripura and many important cities are close to Tripura borders,” said Choudhury, who also took part in providing relief to the then Bangladeshi refugees.
He regretted that despite the state approaching the central government several times and then Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee to build a memorial in Agartala in memory of Indian soldiers and Bangladeshi freedom fighters, the Centre failed to act.
“In 1971, Tripura’s population was 15 lakh but the state had given relief and shelter to 16 lakh Bangladeshi refugees who fled their country to escape the bloody war.”
Lok Sabha MP Jitendra Choudhury, who played a significant role in developing the park and memorial at Chottakhola as then forest Minister, said the park would not be just a tourist spot, it would be a milestone for the future generations to know the details of a great victory of a bloody war that led to creation of a sovereign country Bangladesh.
Tripura Tourism Minister Ratan Bhowmik, Forest Minister Naresh Jamatia, Lok Sabha Member Sankar Prasad Datta, MLA Sudhan Das among others also spoke on the occasion.
Bangladeshi intellectuals, freedom fighters, artists and academicians took part in the memorial and park inauguration ceremony.
On November 11, 2010, then Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni laid the foundation stone of the “Bharat-Bangla Maitri Uddan” (India-Bangladesh Friendship Park).
Veteran Communist Leader and Legislator Sudhan Das told IANS that a war museum, surrounded by hillocks, verdant valleys, lakes, plants, sculptures, graveyards of Bangladeshi freedom fighters have turned the place not just into a park or memorial but much more than that.
Statues of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Bangladesh Founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman have also been erected in the park, which was developed jointly by at least 10 departments of the Tripura Government with the Forest Department as the nodal agency.
–IANS
sc/gh/rn
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
Cheers and Cheers: Barzilla’s Joyful Ode to Inclusivity and Celebration
Casino Days Reveal Internal Data on Most Popular Smartphones
Meghalaya Reserves Legalized Gambling and Sports Betting for Tourists
IPL 20202 UPDATE: KXIP vs MI IPL Dream11 Team Prediction for Today Match, Update Point Table of all Team.
In a Live debate AAP leader Syed Asad Abbas hurls abuses to BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.
‘India’s Most Wanted’ trailer out Arjun Kapoor on hunt of Osama-Bin-Laden
Time to move on: Sonakshi on Shatrughan’s joining Congress
