Sisters of India and Bangladesh along with border forces of two countries celebrated the ‘Rakhi Bandhan’ at Hili border under Hakimpur upazila of Dinajpur on Thursday, setting a unique example of brotherhood. High officials of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Border Security Force (BSF) of India along with male and female were present at the function. Citizens of both neighbouring countries including newlywed women, elderly women, men and school going children with set of ‘Rakhis’ thronged the venue at 285/11-s pillar near zero line of India-Bangladesh border in Hakimpur upazila.
The traditional programme jointly organised by the ‘Bhasa O Sanskriti of Kolaghat’ under Purbo Medinipur and the ‘Hili Jagarani Club’ of Hili Thana under Dakkhin Dinajpur of Paschimbanga of India.
Lt Col Ranesh, Commanding Officer of 96 BSF Battalion and Subedar Major Md Shahidul Islam of Hili BGB under Joypurhat-3 Battalion formally inaugurated the festival after short speech.
Girls of both countries tied up Rakhi on right wrists, a symbol of godly messages and blessings. Later, sweets were distributed among the people present at the venue.
It was also seen that women applied vermilion on their forehead and in-turn the BSF and BGB jawans welcomed them wholeheartedly and promised to safeguard them and the nation.
Anjali Sarker an elderly woman of Hili Thana of Dakkhin Dinajpur said that the motive of celebrating ‘Rakhi Bandhan’ on border is that the BSF and BGB personnel, who have to stay away from their families for long period may feel the warmth of family relations on this occasion and it would develop love and affection between the BSF-BGB and civilians of both countries. The BGB and BSF thanked the members of these organisers saying that the event has encouraged the borer guards raise their morale.
Lt Col Ranesh said that he expected that such programme will improve the brotherhood between the people of Bangladesh and India.
Krishnendu Bera, the chief of the organising committee said that they have been organising such programme to improve brotherhood between the bordering villagers and border guards of these both countries.
“The barbed wire fence is painful to us. Such programme will help us to forget the pain for moments”, he added while talking with The Independent on Thursday at zero line of India-Bangladesh border.
Nobel laureate Rabindranath and Kazi Nazrul Islam in their literature inspired the nationals of both countries to maintain brotherhood, added Professor Himansu Kumar Sarker of Hili Thana of Dakkhin Dinajpur of Paschimbanga adding that they have been celebrating the festival since 1905 and Indo-Bangla separation could not deter them. The programme concluded at around 1:00pm.
-With The Independent input
