The New Nation - Internet Edition

Narsingdi Correspondent

Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty yesterday said his country would provide Bangladesh with five lakh tonnes of rice as it pledged earlier to help face the production shortfall caused due to last year's floods and cyclone Sidr.

"The bond between the two countries was created during the Bangladesh's 1971 Liberation War and we would also further strengthen the bilateral ties in future," the High Commissioner told a discussion organised by the Bangladesh-India Moitree Samity at the Battala Math in the district.

Pinak said arrangements to ship the rest four lakh tonnes of food were finalised Sunday at a meeting between the officials of the two countries.

He said, "We have extended our hands of friendship, and would continue to extend it in the coming days and all possible assistance in any necessity of Bangladesh."

The Indian High Commissioner said the initiative for train service between Dhaka and Kolkata is a sign of friendship between the two countries.

President of the organisation and former vice-chancellor of Dhaka University Prof AK Azad Chowdhury, acting general secretary of the samity Subir Kushari, advisers of the Samity former secretary Mohammad Ali, Awami League leader Mozaffar Hossain Paltu, and journalist Swapan Kumar Saha, among others, spoke at the function.

The district unit president of the organisation Motaleb Pathan chaired the discussion.

The High Commissioner during his daylong tour to Narsingdi also visited several historic temples in the district and the home of Bhai Girishchandra Sen, the first Bengali who translate the Holy Quran in Bangla at Pachdona.