President Kovind to inaugurate Sri Ramana Kali Temple in Dhaka destroyed by Pak Army in 1971
Terming it as an emotional moment for both the countries, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said that 50 years after it was destroyed by the Pakistan Army in 1971, President Ram Nath Kovind will inaugurate the renovated historic Sri Ramana Kali temple here on Friday. President Kovind is in Bangladesh on his first state visit at the invitation of his counterpart M Abdul Hamid to attend the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan in 1971.
Shringla said that on December 17, President Kovind will inaugurate the renovated Shri Ramana Kali Temple, which was completely destroyed by the Pakistani Army during the heinous ‘Operation Searchlight’ in 1971.
“So, it is fitting that after 50 years since then, we are inaugurating the renovated Ramana Kali temple and it is not only symbolic, but it is a very emotional moment for both our countries,” he told reporters here on Wednesday. Is.”
According to a report in Dhaka Tribune, President Kovind has also expressed his interest in exchanging views with the members of the temple committee.
The temple was completely destroyed in 1971 by the Pakistan Army’s Operation ‘Operation Searchlight’ targeting the resistance movement in the country. According to various reports, the temple was set on fire, killing many people including the devotees and the people living in it.
India supported the restoration of the temple. Hindus constitute about 10 percent of the 169 million population of Muslim-majority Bangladesh. President Kovind, who is here on a three-day state visit, held extensive talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart M Abdul Hamid on Wednesday.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen also met President Kovind separately and exchanged views on bilateral ties and how the two countries can enhance their cooperation in several areas for mutual benefit.
On Thursday, the President took part in the Victory Day parade here as a “guest of honour”, as Bangladesh marks 50 years of victory in the liberation war against Pakistan. On this day in 1971, Lieutenant General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, leading 93,000 Pakistani troops, surrendered to the Indian Army under the command of Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Arora in Dhaka, and called East Pakistan the newly liberated “Bangladesh”. was declared. ,
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