In the latest move by India in warming up ties with Bangladesh, the country’s high commission in Dhaka on Tuesday announced that it has produced a “special edition wristwatch” to mark the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader and Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami unveiled the limited series of the Special Edition wristwatches at a ceremony in the minister’s office.

Obaidul Quader recalled the shared history of the Liberation War which is the “bedrock on which the India-Bangladesh bilateral relation is built.,” while Vikram Doraiswami “emphasized that while Bangabandhu is the Father of Nation of Bangladesh, he is also a hero to the Indian people. It is only natural that Indians also wish to celebrate Mujib Borsho with the same affection and respect as they did when he visited India in January 1972, en-route to Bangladesh upon the country’s liberation.”

The watches bear the image of Bangabandhu and his signature on the dial and carry a note from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying: “Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s whole life is an inspiration for all. Bangabandhu was a leader of courage, a man of conviction, a sage of peace, a champion of justice, equality & dignity, a hand of defiance against brutality & a shield against coercion”

A press statement said, “It is a humble tribute from the High Commission of India in Bangladesh, to a giant for all time; a man who is a respected hero in India as he is revered in Bangladesh.”  It added that “Time cannot be reversed, nor can it be advanced. But the life and work of the truly great people are remembered precisely because their lives impact the times in which we live.”

“The life and work of the Father of Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman changed the world in which he lived.  He was that rare genius who dared to change time irrevocably. In doing so, he created from the ashes of the War of Liberation, the nation of Bangladesh. May this timepiece inspire the hero in all of us, to realize the dreams of this giant among men.”

India stood by Bangladesh during its 1971 War of Independence against Pakistan and the two neighbours have maintained “true friend” status ever since. However, bilateral ties saw a “dip” briefly, but in recent weeks a number of activities and events indicate the traditional old friendship is warming up since Vikram Goraiswamy took charge as the Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka recently.

The elegant timepiece was produced specially for the High Commission of India by TITAN, a division of the giant Tata Group of India.

newsnextbd/nq