Epar Bangla, Opar Bangla (Bengal on both shores) is a favourite expression in West Bengal,  signifying the commonality of West Bengal and Bangladesh. While it is echoed by some in Bangladesh, it is often met here with a measure of hostility: how can one of the states in India be equated with an independent and sovereign state? The fact remains, however, that both the units were once part of Bengal whose geographical boundaries have changed over time but whose idea — the idea of Bengal — has overridden the changes mostly in cultural terms. Both Bangladesh and West Bengal inherit the same cultural heritage.