Rajshahi: Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Sunday said the relations between Bangladesh and India have scaled an ‘unprecedented height’.

He credited Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi for the current level of relations.

Shringla was addressing a civic reception hosted by Rajshahi City Corporation acting mayor Nizam Ul Azim.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, Fazle Hossain Badsha, MP, ex- mayor Khairuzzaman Liton, CEO, Rajshahi City Corporation ABM Sharif Uddin and Assistant High Commissioner of India Abhijit Chattopadhyay were present.

The High Commissioner said the role of Bangabandhu Sheikh Muzibur Rahman and then Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi will always be cherished in the memories of the people of both countries.

“They laid the foundations of an eternal friendship between the peoples of our countries,” Shringla said adding, “For us in India, Rajshahi is often considered the gateway to Bangladesh.  I’m, therefore, very happy to be paying my first visit to the city.”

Rajshahi has been home to eminent personalities from India, including the legendary filmmaker Ritwik Ghatak and the famous historian Jadunath Sarkar.

“While in Rajshahi, our collective memories cannot but go back to the Liberation War of 1971 during which, unique in the annals of history, Indians and Bangladeshis alike shed their blood together for a great cause - the liberation of this country and the creation of the new state of Bangladesh,” said the High Commissioner.