Bangladesh Prez visits Assam, Meghalaya where he spent years as freedom-fighter

Bangladesh President Mohammad Abdul Hamid on Thursday began his four-day visit to India from Assam and Meghalaya where he had spent years as a freedom-fighter. Hamid will on the weekend fly to New Delhi to attend the International Solar Alliance Summit.

The ‘historic’ trip to Assam and Meghalaya will actually take President Hamid down the memory lane to remind him of the days of Bangladesh War of Liberation in 1971. As a young Awami League leader, Hamid,  had crossed over to Meghalaya and joined Bangladesh Liberation Force, known as Mujib Bahini, as its sub-sector commander with the task of mobilising Bengali youths who took refuge in Gumaghat, Mailam and Balat in Meghalaya.

During his days in India, Hamid played a leading role in inspiring the youths to take part in the war and arranged guerrilla warfare for them with the help of Indian military. At Balat, Hamid helped set up a Youth Reception Camp to receive Bangladesh youths crossing over to the state to guide and train them for the liberation war.

Diplomatic sources said President Hamid has fond memories of his days in India and he is deeply attached to this country. India had provided shelter to 10 million Bengalees during the 1971 Liberation War, in West Bengal, Tripura, Meghalaya and Assam.

In New Delhi, Hamid will attend the ISA, which is the first treaty-based international and inter-governmental organisation. Bangladesh, which has created a power plant that will produce 500 MW solar power in future, is currently producing 240 MW solar power. Bangladesh government has set a target to produce 10 per cent of its total electricity from solar power.