Tripura CM inaugurates Indo-Bangla Friendship Park

Agartala, December 16 (PTI): Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar today inaugurated Indo-Bangla Friendship Park at Chottakhola in South Tripura district, around 130 kilometre from here. Sarkar said this park is a historic witness of friendship between Tripura and Bangladesh.   "So long the history of Bangladesh liberation war would be discussed, the sacrifice of the liberation warriors of Bangladesh, who fought from Chottakhola camps, would be remembered. I salute the sacrifice of the Mukti joddhas", he said.   Sarkar also appreciated the role of Late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi s bold move to support freedom struggle of Bangladesh and said Tripura whole heartedly supported the cause of liberation.   The foundation stone for the 20.20 hectare park, which encompasses seven hillocks and a lake near the Trishna wild life sanctuary, was laid by the then Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni in November 2010.   Two statues of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and India Gandhi, were put up in the park which was earlier a base for 'Mukti Joddhas' (Bangladeshi freedom fighters) from where they launched operations against the Pakistani army in Noakhali, Feni and parts of Comilla district of Bangladesh.   Space has been alloted to the Indian Army to set up war memoirs and memorials in the park. Speaking on the occasion, Tripura minister Badal Choudhury said India and Bangladesh now shares a very cordial bilateral relation. "Now we want to strengthen economic cooperation with the neighbouring country and want access to Chittagong port," Choudhury added.   Meanwhile, Indian Army officials paid homage to martyrs who laid down lives during the Liberation War.