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Time of India
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
After 9 yrs, Mamata meets B'desh envoy at Nabanna
Kolkata: After a gap of nine years, chief minister met Bangladesh high commissioner to India M Riaz Hamidullah at Nabanna on Monday, for nearly 40 minutes. This marked the first such interaction since 2016, when Syed Muazzem Ali, the then Bangladesh high commissioner, had met the CM. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Despite attempts by subsequent envoys, meetings did not materialise. Chief secretary Manoj Pant attended Monday's meeting along with Bangladesh's acting deputy high commissioner in Kolkata, Sikder Mohammad Ashrafur Rahman. Nabanna officials remained reserved about the meeting's details and Hamidullah was unavailable for comment. Hamidullah posted on X: "Paid a courtesy call on CM of West Bengal in Kolkata. She reflected on deeper Bangladesh-India connects and need to strengthen ties in shared interests in mutually beneficial ways." The Bangladesh deputy high commission released a statement describing it as a courtesy meeting. "Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee expressed her hope to the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India, Riaz Hamidullah, at her office in Nabanna, to strengthen the traditional ties between the people of Bengal and Bangladesh. During the cordial and warm courtesy meeting, the CM requested the High Commissioner to convey her greetings to Bangladesh's chief advisor Professor Dr Yunus and the people of Bangladesh. This was the first courtesy meeting of the newly appointed High Commissioner of Bangladesh with any chief minister of India. During the meeting, the CM noted that the enduring linguistic, cultural and shared values-based spiritual connection between the people of Bengal and Bangladesh goes beyond economic and commercial relations. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now She expressed her commitment to maintaining her communication with Bangladesh in the future," it said. The meeting took place in the backdrop of recent tensions following the vandalism of 's historic 'Kachhari Bari' at Sirajganj two weeks ago. The Nobel laureate had close links with the Sirajganj house as he used to visit this place frequently. Banerjee sent a strongly worded letter to PM Narendra Modi on June 12, requesting intervention with the Bangladesh govt. In her letter, she said: "I would urge you to kindly take up the matter very strongly with the neighbouring country's govt, so that no stone is left unturned to swiftly bring to justice the perpetrators of this heinous and mindless act. Although untold damage has already been done, a strong international protest would at least deter in future any attack on monuments of cultural legacies that have withstood steadfastly all tests of time. " Diplomatic sources indicated that Hamidullah may have explained the actual circumstances of the vandalism to the CM, as Dhaka had previously said that it was a local law enforcement matter.
Time of India
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Mamata Banerjee meets newly appointed Bangladesh High Commissioner to India M Riaz Hamidullah
The newly appointed Bangladesh High Commissioner to India M. Riaz Hamidullah called on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at state secretariat Nabanna on Monday evening for the first time after the Yunus government took charge in Bangladesh. Chief Secretary Manoj Pant was also present during the 'courtesy meeting' today, officials said. 'West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Md. Riaz Hamidullah held a meeting at her office in Nabanna with the aim of strengthening the traditional relations between the people of West Bengal and the people of Bangladesh,' the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission said in a statement. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now 'In a cordial meeting, the Chief Minister requested the High Commissioner to convey her best wishes to Bangladesh's Principal Advisor Prof. Dr. Yunus and the people of Bangladesh," an official said. Today's meeting between Banerjee and Hamidullah was a courtesy meeting. 'This was the first courtesy call by the newly appointed High Commissioner of Bangladesh to any Indian Chief Minister," the official said. Live Events During the meeting, Chief Minister Banerjee pointed out to the traditional linguistic, cultural and other ties between the people of West Bengal and Bangladesh based on common values, which is beyond economic and commercial connect. She expressed her wish to continue her engagement with Bangladesh in the future, people in the know said. The meeting comes days after West Bengal Banerjee wrote a letter to PM Narendra Modi over vandalism of Rabindranath Tagore 's ancestral home in Bangladesh. Banerjee, in a letter to the PM pointed out about vandalism of Rabindranath Tagore's ancestral home in Sirajganj, Bangladesh. She had urged the PM to take up the matter with the government of Bangladesh and ensure that the perpetrators of this senseless act are brought to justice. Rabindra Kachharibari in Bangladesh's Sirajganj was the ancestral home and revenue office of the Tagore family.
New Indian Express
23-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Bangladesh envoy proposes joint geo-biodiversity survey with West Bengal
KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday met Bangladesh High Commissioner to India, Md. Riaz Hamidullah, at Nabanna, the state's administrative headquarters. The meeting, which lasted around 45 minutes, was described by officials as warm and cordial, though no formal briefing was held by either party immediately afterwards. According to highly placed sources at Nabanna, the High Commissioner proposed a joint survey on geo-diversity and biodiversity, citing the ecological and environmental similarities between West Bengal and Bangladesh. The meeting came in the backdrop of a recent incident of vandalism at the historic Kachari House in Sirajganj, Bangladesh a site closely associated with Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. Chief Minister Banerjee had earlier written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging diplomatic engagement with Bangladesh to ensure a thorough investigation, highlighting the matter as one of international and cultural significance.
