Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Sunday concluded his two-day official visit to Barishal, said the high commission.
During the visit, the High Commissioner inaugurated the Handicrafts Fair at Braja Mohan School in Barishal on Sunday.
Mayor-elect of Barishal City Corporation Serniabat Sadeq Abdullah was present at the event, among others.The High Commissioner also visited Kabi Guru Rabindranath Thakur Degree College at Kuriana and paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at the Satindranath Memorial Gandhi Ashram Trust at Bakerganj.
At the end of tour, the High Commissioner visited Mehendiganj Upazila of Barishal division at the invitation of MP Shri Pankaj Debnath where he interacted with the Muktijoddhas and local people.
On the opening day of the visit on Saturday, a function was organised in Barishal to distribute scholarship chèques to 120 offspring of Muktijoddhas.
Currently two schemes are being implemented and 12,621 students have benefited so far. An amount of BDT 21 crores have been disbursed till date.
A similar function has been planned in Sylhet. Government of India awards scholarships to offspring of Muktijoddhas in recognition of their invaluable contribution to the War of Liberation of Bangladesh.
The High Commissioner also hosted a dinner that evening which was attended by a wide section of Barishal society including political leaders - mayor-elect of Barishal Serniabat Sadeq Abdullah, current mayor Ahsan Habib Kamal, Chairman Sher-e-Bangla Foundation A K Faiyazul Haque Razu, Divisional Commissioner, senior officials from the administration, academics, intellectuals, cultural personalities and Muktijoddhas.