The country would have been prosperous with the friendly support from India if Indria had not been assassinated in 1984, they observed.

Bangladesh-Bharat Friendship Society (BBFS) has organised the discussion on "Indira Gandhi's Contribution in the Liberation War of Bangladesh" to mark the 88th birth anniversary of former Indian prime minister at the National Press Club in the City.

Former Army chief Major General (retd) KM Shafiullah said, "Due to her humanity about one crore people of the country got shelter in the Indian land for nine months during the war."

"We have to build Bangladesh and Indian friendship in the light of liberation war." he maintained.

Addressing as chief guest, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim MP said Mrs Gandhi continued her support braving all kinds of obstacles in the war of liberation of Bangladesh.

"She was secular, democratic and humanitarian," said Selim adding that's why she was assassinated.

Mrs Gandhi wished that Bangladesh get progress on it's own and that's why she signed various bilateral agreements including Farakkh Barrage agreement, maintained the chief guest.

Dhaka University Teachers' Association President Prof AAMS Arefin Siddiq said Indira was one of the founders of secular democracy in India.

Prior to the liberation war of Bangladesh, Indira visited many countries to get support in favour of the war, he said.

At first Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Indira Gandhi conceived the philosophical idea of Saarc in 1972 for the development of South Asia, Prof Arefin observed.

Prof Dr Azad Chowdhury, president of BBFS, presided over the discussion while BBFS General Secretary Nim Chandra Bhawmik, presidium member Ismat Kadir Gama, Amirul Islam Bedu, Bangladesh Federal Journalist Union President Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury and Awami League Cultural Secretary Alomgir Kumkum spoke.