Hummingbird News Desk
KOLKATA, 28 FEB: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday while inaugurating the 45th Kolkata International Book Fair at Salt Lake’s Central Park said, “Though divided by border, the culture connects both Bangladesh and Bengal.”
This being the 50th year of Liberation War of Bangladesh, the Publishers and Booksellers Guild — the organisers of the fair — have decided to give special focus to Bangladesh during this edition of the Book Fair.
“Bangladesh is the theme of this year’s Book Fair. The cordiality and connection that we share with Bangladesh is eternal. Even though West Bengal is now a state in India and Bangladesh is an independent country, we are connected by culture and the physical division has never been able to divide the people,” said the Chief Minister, while inaugurating the fair, which will run till 13 March.
Stressing on the shared history, Miss Banerjee highlighted this fact by claiming that the national anthem of the both the countries were written by Bengali Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.
The Bengal Chief Minister also wished good health to the Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and extended her regards to the brothers and sisters of Bangladesh.
“The Kolkata International Book Fair and the Kolkata International Film Festival are two of the most vibrant festivals in India. The only thing missing is a music festival of international standard, and we promise to start one from next year,” Miss Banerjee said.
She also renamed Salt Lake’s Central Park, where the Book Fair has been held for the past few years, to ‘Boi Mela Prangan’. “This will keep the brand alive,” the CM added.
The Chief Minister appealed to all concerned to end the war and restore peace at the earliest. “I do not want to talk for or against any nation all I want is world peace.” India has always stood for peace and showed the way to the world.” I have written a letter to PM Narendra Modi requesting him to pave way for peace. My heart goes out to those who lost their lives at war,” she added.
Tags: #MamataBanerjee #KolkataBookFair #RussianStall #Peace
