Manmohan Singh urges youth to work hard for building Sonar Bangla

Dhaka, Sep.7 (ANI): Urging the younger generation to take over the mantle of carrying forward the sacred legacy of trust and amity enjoyed between Bangladesh and India, the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, on Wednesday said they should "work hard to build the Sonar Bangla" of poet Rabindranath Tagore's dreams.

"I urge you to work with the same passion and same sincerity to usher in a golden era of peace, prosperity and friendship among the people of India and Bangladesh, Singh in an address to faculty and students of Dhaka University.

Describing Dhaka University as one of the finest seats of higher learning in South Asia, and having many renowned scholars and thinkers passing through its portals, Dr. Singh said: "As a teacher myself, I feel truly at home in this environment".

He further described Dhaka University as being more than just an institution of higher learning.

"It was here that the language movement began, culminating ultimately in the birth of a new proud nation and bringing a new dawn for a proud people," he said. ommenting on Ekushey, a Bangla computing and localization project, he said thousands of people gather at the Shaheed Minar to pay homage to the martyrs of the language movement.

"It is an emotional outpouring of their love for their language, their country and their unique culture. It is a renewal of the dedication to the values and aspirations that guided you in your years of national struggle. The Ekushey Book Fair has become among the largest attended literary events in the world, symbolizing Bangladesh's love for literature, fine arts and poetry," the Indian Prime Minister said.

He said that the University of Dhaka had acquired fame for firing intellectual awakening and freedom among the citizens of Bangladesh, both in the past and now in the present.

Describing Bangladesh as an open, moderate and vibrant society and democracy, Dr. Singh that these shared values were also visible in India.

"Our people have a common civilisational heritage. Both our countries have been deeply influenced by the tenets of Islam, which teaches peace, compassion and virtuous living. For centuries, our people have lived and worshipped together in harmony," he said.

"Our lands and people have been sustained by the common waters of the mighty Ganga and the Brahmaputra. The verses of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam are read and revered on both sides of the border," he added.

"We must live in peace and harmony as good neighbours just like our forefathers did. We must stand by each other in good times and in times of crisis as we have done in the past," he said. (ANI)