DHAKA, Dec 17, 2021 (BSS) - Visiting Indian President Ram Nath Kovind today inaugurated the newly refurbished building of Ramna Kali Mandir in the capital.

   He inaugurated the renovated building this morning by unveiling a plaque. The Indian president also offered puja at the temple.

   He also exchanged greetings with the invited guests, the temple committee members, representatives of Hindu community and the devotees.

   The Indian President along with first lady Shrimati Savita Kovind and their daughter Swathi Kovind reached the Ramna Kali Mandir around 10.30.

   State Minister for Religious Affairs Md. Faridul Haque Khan received the Indian president at the temple. Kovind was welcomed at the temple by blowing of conch-shell as per the Hindu ritual on the occasion.

   After the inauguration, the Indian President along with his wife and daughter offered puja at the temple. From there he returned to hotel.

   Kovind came to Dhaka on Wednesday on a three-day state visit to join the birth centenary celebrations of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Golden Jubilee celebration of Bangladesh's Independence. President Kovind is scheduled to leave for New Delhi this afternoon.

   Earlier, Ramna Kali Mandir's executive committee President Utpal Saha said Sri Sri Ramna Kali Mandir and Srima Anandamayi Ashram was completely destroyed by the Pakistani forces during heinous Operation Searchlight in 1971.

   He said that the centuries-old temple was destroyed and many houses on temple premises came under attack and residents and devotees were brutally killed during the Operation Searchlight of the Pakistan army.

   Utpal said the temple was renovated at the funding of Indian government with the help of the Bangladesh government.

   The renovation comes 50 years after the independence of Bangladesh as none who came in power after the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman took any initiative for renovation.

   "When Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina assumed office as the prime minister, we got the opportunity to perform worship here without any obstacles from police," he said.

   Utpal said the initiative to get the temple-cum-hermitage facelift was possible as Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina is in power.

   He said there is a memorable plaque with inscription of the names of those who were martyred on the premises of the temple during Liberation War in 1971.