The 71st death anniversary of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore was observed here near the zero line of the India-Bangladesh border under I iakimpur upazila of Dinajpur on Tuesday morning with a vibrant cultural programme.

Artistes of Bangladesh and India separated performed Tagore songs, dances and recitation to the delight of the audiences in both countries.

The programme marking the death anniversary of the towering literary figure was jointly organised by Bhasha O Sanskriti, Kolaghat of Purba Medinipur of Paschimbanga and Hili Shilpakala Academy of Hakimpur upazila of Dinajpur.

Holding aloft their respective national flags the citizens of both countries enjoyed the cultural programme for two hours, unmindful of the restrictions of the International border law. Border Guards Bangladesh

(BGB) and Border Security Force (BSF) of India along with policemen of both countries assisted the artistes in holding the programme.

The Bangladeshi artistes started the programme with the national anthem.

Later, several Tagore songs followed.

Wien the Bangladeshi artistes concluded their performances, their Indian counterparts started their programme inside the Indian territory.

Himadri Sukla, who had come to the Hili zero line of Hakimpur upazila of Dinajpur from Shantiniketan to enjoy the programme said that the reunion of the nationals of the two countries was momentous.

"Though India and Bangladesh are divided politically, we speak the same language, have a common culture and understand each other well,” she added.

"Such programmes will help forge new bonds between Bangladesh and India,” added China Ghosh, president of Dinajpur Press Club.