The country's first 'Wagah in the East', along the Indo-Bangla border, will be thrown open to the public this Gandhi Jayanti when Home Ministers of both the countries will witness a historic cultural extravaganza between the two neighbours.
The first retreat ceremony between the two countries will be held on the lines of what happens everyday between India and Pakistan along Wagah post in Punjab, sans simulated angry looks by border guards and heavy stomping of foot.
Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde is expected to be present with his Bangladeshi counterpart at the Petrapole-Benapole border in West Bengal to inaugurate the ceremony on October 2.
"The historic ceremony will be held on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti and I hope people from both the countries will enjoy the showcasing of our cultural legacy," BSF chief Subhash Joshi told PTI here.
The maiden ceremony, which will include ceremonial lowering of flags in the evening, will be conducted by the border guards of the two countries-- the Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) dressed in full regalia.
The BSF, on the India side, will create required infrastructure for the people to witness the event and will upgrade the logistics over a period of time.
The ceremony, according to the sources will be "friendly and refined" and will include renditions by famous Bengali poet Kazi Nazrul Islam and Nobel laureate Rabindra Nath Tagore.
