Hasina pays tributes to Mukherjee in Bangladesh parliament

 Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday paid rich tributes to India's former president Pranab Mukherjee and said he was a true friend of Banglesh, as country's Parliament opted a condolence motion over his death.

“He was a true friend of Banglesh since our 1971 Liberation War,” Hasina told maiden session of Parliament called for second time since outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.

country's Parliament opted a condolence motion to mourn demise of Mukherjee and several distinguished Bangleshis who died recently. Mukherjee, 84, died on Monday in New Delhi following a 21-day battle with multiple ailments. former president was cremated with full state hours on Tuesday.

Banglesh government on Tuesday anunced that it will observe a one-day state mourning at death of country’s “real friend”.

Hasina recalled Mukherjee's personal support for her and her family particularly during her life in exile in India after August 15, 1975 coup in Banglesh.

putsch killed her far and Banglesh’s founder Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with most of his family members and toppled his post-independence government. Hasina and her younger sister Sheikh Rehana survived as y were on a brief visit abro.

Hasina recalled that during exile, remaining members of her family h to keep ir identities secret for security reasons which also restricted ir movements and social interactions.

“In those days, it was his family alone we could develop a family relation and got taste of family relationship,” she said.

Hasina described Mukherjee as an erudite politician with vast kwledge in different fields. premier said Mukherjee always used his good office for Banglesh’s benefit and counteracted negative campaigns against country.

Hasina last week also sent a letter to her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi saying “as a rewned scholar and statesman of India, and a highly esteemed leer of South Asia, Pranab Mukherjee commanded respect and miration of all”. She said ‘Bharat Ratna’ Mukherjee’s tireless work for welfare of people of India will inspire future generation of leers t only in India but across countries in region.

Hasina called Mukherjee a “true friend” and said that “he was always been highly revered and loved by people of Banglesh”. She recalled his support and contributions in strengning bilateral relations.

Banglesh in 2013 conferred hour of ‘Banglesh Muktijuddho Sommana’ (Liberation War Hour) on Mukherjee for his valuable contributions to its 1971 Liberation War. 

(Im Credits:PTI)