Bangladesh MP Md Abdus Shahid on Thursday said his country’s relationship with India had reached its peak and the bonding between the two nations was strengthening by the day.

Addressing Bharat-Bangla Paryatan Utsav, a two-day tourism event that began on Thursday, at Ujjayanta Palace, Shahid said, “The relationship between India and Bangladesh has reached its peak and such events will help strengthen the bond between the two countries.”

He also remembered the Indian heroes who helped Bangladesh during its Liberation War of 1971. “I want to remember those heroes of India who helped us during the 1971 Liberation War. The Indian government, army and people helped us by allowing one crore people to take shelter during the war. We won the war just for India. We humbly remember those days,” he said.

He said that Tripura and Bangladesh were similar culturally and historically and made a special mention of the help extended by the people of Tripura to Bangladeshis during the war. Shahid said a large number of people from Sylhet, Moulvibazar and Sri Mangal districts of Bangladesh visit Tripura frequently and urged the people of Tripura to visit Bangladesh.

Cultural events, including dance, music and plays by performers from both the countries, have been scheduled over the two days.

Chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb, who attended the event, claimed that efforts made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina had seen huge economic and cultural development in both the countries and that Tripura was playing a crucial role in maintaining a good relationship between the two countries.

Deb said his government wanted to develop health tourism in the state, as a huge number of patients from Bangladesh come here for treatment, and would soon arrange world-class treatment for patients from Bangladesh.