Mujib scholarship for descendants of Indian soldiers killed during 1971 war says Hasina

Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, who is on a tour to India announced the Mujib Scholarship today. The scholarship will be awarded to the direct descendants of the Indian soldiers who were killed or seriously injured in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.

Hasina said that the awards, named after her father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, will be conferred tomorrow.

“Tomorrow, I will confer the Mujib Scholarship to the direct descendants of the soldiers or officers of the defence forces of India who were martyred or gravely wounded during the Bangladesh Liberation War,” Hasina said.

As per reports. about 200 family members of Indian Army personnel will receive the scholarship.

The Bangladeshi Prime Minister in a recent interview with ANI referred to India as a “tested” friend and said that country had stood by Bangladesh in its hour of need, first in 1971 and then at later times also.

Last year Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was in Dhaka to participate in the 50 years of Bangladesh’s independence, described the South Asian nation as a “soho jatri” or a co-traveller in the development of the region.

Earlier in the day, the two Prime Ministers held discussions on a wide range of issues and reiterated their commitment to boost bilateral ties.

As many as seven memoranda of understanding (MoUs) have been inked in the presence of the two prime ministers.

Modi assured Hasina that India will “continue to walk step by step with Bangladesh in realizing the vision of a stable, prosperous and progressive Bangladesh that Bangabandhu had seen.”

Hasina arrived in New Delhi on Monday. She visited the Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah yesterday.  Before leaving for Dhaka on Thursday, she will also pay a visit to the Dargah at Ajmer Sharif.

Also read: India, Bangladesh sign 7 pacts to boost bilateral ties