AGARTALA, March 17 (TIWN): On the occasion of 97th birthday of first Prime Minister of Bangladesh Bangabandu Sheikh Mujibur Rahaman which is celebrated in Tripura with a series of programmes, a cultural program was also organised at Sukanta Academy to mark the day. It is to be mentioned here that Bangladesh has dedicated the day as their national children's day.

Besides, Border Guards of Bangladesh (BGB) celebrated the day in their outposts along the Indo-Bangladesh border in Tripura and greeted their Indian counterpart the BSF.

Assistant High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Agartala hoisted their national flag in the morning in the visa office and paid tribute to Mujibar Rahman's memory. This was followed by a sit and draw competition among the students of neighbourhood.

Bangladesh minister for affairs of Liberation fighter Mozzammel Haque, accompanied by a group of officials and parliamentarians also arrived here in the state on Wednesday last also paid their tribute to Bangabandu.

Haque and his team along with CM Manik Sarkar addressed the gathering in a city auditorium in the evening in the central celebration of the day where two books on Bangabandu and contribution of Tripura in the liberation war of Bangladesh written by a local writer was unveiled.

Addressing the program, both Haque and Sarkar spoke on strengthening bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh and recalled the history of liberation war and the contribution of the people of Tripura, the Indian army and the then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Appreciating the role of the present government in Bangladesh, Sarkar pointed out that India, particularly Tripura and northeast, had come closer to Bangladesh due to the positive role of Prime minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina.

However, Haque reciprocated the sentiment of Bangladesh to India, particularly to Tripura, for unconditional support in their liberation war and shelter the people of that country in 1971. He also reiterated that Bangladesh is also sincere to further strengthening relationship with India.