India-Bangladesh cycle rally arrives at Benapole, to reach Dhaka on Language Martyrs Day on Feb 21

An International Cycle expedition ‘India-Bangladesh peace and Friendship  bicycle rally’ arrived at Benapole in Bangladesh on Thursday afternoon. The rally was earlier flagged off from Kolkata on Feb 14. The 8 day cycle expedition is scheduled to reach Dhaka on the Language Martyr’s Day on February 21 to pay homage to the people who sacrificed their lives for the Bangla language fighting against the Pakistani army. 

Organised on the occasion of the 75th year of India’s independence being celebrated as Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the cycle rally is dedicated to the freedom fighters of both India and Bangladesh.

The team of 15 cyclists will pedal through 350 kilometres over 8 days to



reach Dhaka covering places like Narail, Bhanga and Mawa. 

The ninth edition of the cycle expedition has participants from all age groups including an 11 year old boy to senior citizens, students to daily wagers and doctors. The event is organised by Bhasa Sutra and Hundred Miles and organisations from West Bengal.

Filmmaker Goutam Ghose, poet Yashodhara Roy Chaudhury, First Secretary at Bangladesh High Commission in Kolkata Ranjan Sen were among the dignitaries present on the occasion of the flag off of the cycle rally from Kolkata. Speaking on the occasion, Goutam Ghose said that on visiting Bangladesh only one realises that there is no difference between the two sides.