‘Their valour will continue to inspire’

"May every visitor to this revered ground honour the sacred memory of the millions who were slain but not silenced," wrote Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Visitors' Book, in a touching tribute at the National Martyrs' Memorial in Savar yesterday.

Writing in the Visitors' Book after planting a sapling of Arjuna tree at the memorial complex as a mark of respect for the martyrs of Bangladesh, he also said, "Their valour will continue to inspire future generations to fight injustice and defend the cause of righteousness."

"On behalf of the people of India, I pray that the eternal flame at Savar remains a lasting reminder of the noble victory of truth and courage over deceit and oppression," Modi wrote in English with a fountain pen before signing off in Hindi.

This was the Indian PM's first official engagement soon after reaching Dhaka by a special plane, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

He also paid homage to the national heroes by placing a wreath at the memorial.

Earlier, the Indian prime minister reached the National Memorial boarding a helicopter around 11:45am, reports BSS.

On his arrival, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque, State Minister for Housing and Public Works Sharif Ahmed and General Officer Commanding of 9 Infantry Division of Bangladesh Army Major General Shaheenul Haque and high civil and military officials welcomed the Indian leader.

A smartly turned-out contingent drawn from Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force gave him a guard of honour while the bugles played the last post.

Modi left the National Memorial for the capital around 12:10pm.

He is on a two-day visit to attend celebration of 50 years of Bangladesh's liberation, India-Bangladesh diplomatic relationship and birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

A special aircraft of the Air India carrying the Indian premier along with his entourage landed at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 10:30 in the morning.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina received her Indian counterpart at the airport.

A 19-gun salute heralded the arrival of Modi while a red carpet was rolled out at the airport to welcome him.

After few hours of landing in Bangladesh, Modi tweeted in Bangla thanking Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for according him a special welcome at the airport.

"Landed in Dhaka. I thank PM Sheikh Hasina for the special welcome at the airport," he tweeted both in Bangla and English.

The Indian premier said this visit would contribute to even stronger bilateral relations between the two neighbouring nations.

Modi became the fifth among the world leaders to attend the 10-day celebration marking the golden jubilee of independence and Mujib Borsho.

This is the first foreign visit of Modi since the Covid-19 onset.