Proof of a bond:External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj hands over the 1971 war memorabilia to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.Special Arrangement  

India on Sunday gifted to Bangladesh Prime Minister the memorabilia of the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971 when an estimated 10 million Bangladesh people took refuge in India and the two neighbours fought together to drive out the Pakistani occupation army.

The memorabilia,handed over to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by visiting Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, includes military equipment utilised by the joint forces of India and Bangladesh during the Liberation War as well as large number of artefacts and documents including historical photographs, archival audio and video clippings, maps, battle records, newspaper clippings, documentary films.

Display in museums

The collection is proposed to be displayed at the Bangladesh National Museum in Shahbagh and the Museum of Independence in Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka.

Ms. Swaraj called on Ms. Hasina at her official Ganobhaban residence where they held discussions.

The Minister conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and informed the Bangladesh leader about the discussions at Sunday’s Joint Consultative Committee meeting. Various aspects of the bilateral relationship including security, trade and connectivity, development cooperation, power, energy and sub-regional cooperation were discussed.

On the ongoing Rohingya crisis, the Minister reaffirmed India’s continued support. Under ‘Operation Insaniyat’, India provided 1000 tonnes of relief material for about 5,00,000 displaced persons, she said.

Rohingya crisis

She also stressed that India was “deeply concerned” at the situation in the Rakhine State of Myanmar, and added: “It is imperative that normalcy in the State is restored expeditiously and a lasting solution found at the earliest.”

Ms. Hasina thanked India for the support it had rendered for the distressed Rohingya humanity.