Ex-Bangladesh Prez in Cooch Behar

Ershad arrives Dinhata

Former president of Bangladesh, Hussain Mohammad Ershad arrived Dinhata in Cooch Behar on Sunday. He came here on a four-day visit. Earlier, he visited Dinhata in June 1975. His family sources said Ershad's visit is merely a personal visit.

The 79-year-old ex-president of Bangladeh, Ershad stepped into India through the International Check Post at Changrabandha in Mekhliganj sub-division of Cooch Behar at about 12-noon. He drove to Dinhata by his own Toyata car and arrived there at about 2 p.m. His younger son Eriq (11) and a few other associates accompanied him.

At Dinhata town, a large number of curious people and his relatives welcomed him. Policemen were also there to maintain peace.

Dinhata was Ershad's hometown where he spent many years in his childhood. He was a student of Dinhata High School. During his address to the gathering, Ershad recalled the memory of late Kamal Guha who was his friend and classmate. He also recalled the name of recently demised Forward Bloc leader Dipak Sengupta. Udayan Guha, the son of late Kamal Guha and a state secretariat member of the Forward Bloc greeted him and offered flower bouquet.

Replying questions from media persons, the ex-Bangladesh president expressed the need of reintroduction of train service between India and Bangladesh through Gitaldaha. He also admitted the need to exchange Chhitmahals (enclaves) of India and Bangladesh.

A poet and author of nine books, Ershad will stay at his old residence at Dinhata till 9 December, said his cousin-brother Tojammel Hossain.