Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 236/21

MEGHALAYA HANDS OVER CULTURAL ARTEFACTS AND TEXTILES FOR DISPLAY AT INDIAN HIGH COMMISSION DHAKA

As part of the commemoration of 75 years of India’s freedom, 50th year of India-Bangladesh friendship and Liberation of Bangladesh and 50 years of Meghalaya’s statehood attainment, a short program was held yesterday the 4th of September, 2021 at BSF BOP - India Bangladesh Border, Dawki – Tamabil.

Speaking at the program, Commissioner and Secretary of Arts and Culture Shri. F. R. Kharkongor emphasized on the important significance of the congruence of these three events. He said, the liberation of Bangladesh marks the 50 years of the bilateral friendship and relationship between the two nations and as a symbol of friendship, fraternity and goodwill between the two countries and with the state of Meghalaya in particular, Kharkongor handed cultural artifacts and unique textiles of Meghalaya to the Assistant High Commissioner, Sylhet, High Commission of India. He was delighted to learn that these items of Meghalaya's cultural heritage will be put up at the dedicated display of Meghalaya at the Indian High Commission at Dhaka.

Kharkongor informed the gathering that recently, India’s Ministry of External Affairs had asked the Government of Meghalaya to identify a partner country to celebrate the Azadi ki Amrit Mohotsav and the Meghalaya State Government had proposed Bangladesh as the partner country as they share very close fraternal ties with people to people contact in terms of commerce, trade and education. Meghalaya and Bangladesh also have a great historical resonance especially in the context of u Tirot Singh, a Khasi king and one of the greatest freedom fighters who fought the British for four years in the Anglo-Khasi war from 1829 to1833 who was deported to Dhaka after being captured by the colonial British. He also informed that the Meghalaya government had sent a proposal to the Ministry of External Affairs for setting up the Tirot Singh Memorial at the Culture Centre of the India High Commission at Dhaka.

Shri. Neeraj Kumar, Commissioner of India in the Assistant High Commission of India at Sylhet, Bangladesh thanked the Meghalaya Government for sharing the tribal artifacts and unique textiles. Another representative of the Assistant High Commission of India, Sylhet who also spoke on the occasion highlighted India at 75 and its glorious achievements - culturally, socially and economically.

Earlier, Shri. Abilash Baranwal IAS, SDO, Amlarem Sub-Division in his welcome address reiterated that the 50 years of Indo-Bangladesh friendship as well as the Liberation of Bangladesh share a history of fifty years of solidarity, shared goals and of rapid strides in nearly all fields of development.

Besides delegates from Bangladesh and the government of Meghalaya, other dignitaries present at the event were Mr. T. G. Ramesh, Head of Chancery, AHC Office, Sanjeev Kumar, Second Secretary (Visa and Consular)/Commercial Representative, AHC office Anil Kumar, 2 IC, 30th battalion. The vote of thanks was delivered by Shri. K. L. Nongbri, Joint Secretary, Arts and Culture, Meghalaya.