Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Monday laid emphasis on strengthening people-to-people contact between Bangladesh and India. 

While inaugurating the Bangabandhu Media Centre at the Press Club of India (PCI) in New Delhi, he said the Centre will facilitate efforts to boost ties among people of the two countries, especially journalists.

Minister Hasan said the relationship between Bangladesh and India reached a new height under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her counterpart Narendra Modi. 

He, however, said they still have to work to strengthen people-to-people relations, and the Centre will definitely strengthen the ties between the two countries.

The Information Minister depicted the short life sketch of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Father of the Nation of Bangladesh in his speech. 

Bangabandhu guided Bangladesh to the path of Liberation and the country would not have been born if Bangabandhu were not born, he mentioned.  

He also expressed his special thanks and gratitude for the contribution of India to our independence. 

The Minister mentioned the role of journalists and media is very important for enhancing the bilateral relationship of India and Bangladesh.

A documentary on the life of Bangabandhu was screened at the inauguration programme.

Read: Inauguration of Bangabandhu Media Centre at Press Club of India Monday

Earlier, he inaugurated the “Bangabandhu Media Centre” at the Press Club of India (PCI).

Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Muhammad Imran, Joint Secretary (Bangladesh, Myanmar Division), Ministry of External Affairs Smita Pant, Jatiya Press Club (JPC) President Farida Yasmin and former PCI President Gautam Lahiri spoke at the inaugural ceremony chaired by PCI President Umakant Lakhera.

The Media Centre, established with support from Bangladesh Mission in New Delhi, is an effort to pay tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Meanwhile, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Bangladesh High Commission, New Delhi and Press Club of India.

Minister (Press) at Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi Shaban Mahmood and Secretary General of the PCI Vinay Kumay signed the MoU on behalf of their respective sides.  

The Information Minister reached New Delhi on Sunday to attend the programme and he will have a number of meetings in Delhi.

During his four-day visit, the Information Minister is scheduled to have meetings with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Anurag Singh Thakur and Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, according to the Information Ministry here.

Bangladesh is now celebrating the birth centenary of Bangabandhu at home and abroad with a number of initiatives abroad.

The Bangabandhu Media Centre is equipped with modern facilities, including an exhibition hall and library.

It is located on the first floor of the PCI which was established on December 20, 1957.

The Information Minister placed wreaths at the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat on Monday and signed visitors' books there.

Read: 'Bangabandhu Bangladesh Book Corner' launched in Brunei

He will address a function of Indian Council of World Affairs and is expected to join a dinner to be hosted by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), an Indian think tank.

He is expected to deliver a lecture to Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) during his visit.  

The Information Minister is scheduled to return home on Thursday.