Bangladesh and India will commemorate December 6 as Maitri Diwas, or Friendship Day, demonstrating that the emotional bonds stemming from the invaluable contribution of the government and the people of India in the Liberation War of Bangladesh remain a “dominant factor” in Bangladesh-India relations.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam said Bangladesh and India are celebrating together the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Bangladesh-India relations (Maitree Diwas) on December 6 at 18 selected cities across the globe, as well as Dhaka and New Delhi.
He recalled with utmost respect the brave freedom fighters of Bangladesh and the Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lives for Bangladesh’s Independence in 1971.
“The blood of over 18,000 Indians, mingled with that of millions of our own people, culminated in Bangladesh’s independence, and laid the basis of our special friendship,” Shahriar said.
Arindam Bagchi, official spokesperson at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), said the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) will organise a special event on December 6 in New Delhi. The event will see participation from both countries.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will send a video message for the event to be held in New Delhi, an official told.There will be celebrations in Dhaka on the occasion as well.
“I want to emphasise that the holding of the Maitri Diwas is a reflection of the deep and abiding friendship between the people of India and the people of Bangladesh, that has been forged in blood and shared sacrifices,” said Arindam Bagchi.
During the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bangladesh in March this year, it was decided to commemorate December 6 as Maitri Diwas. Just 10 days before the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971, India recognised Bangladesh as a nation on December 6, 1971.
India was one of the first countries to establish bilateral diplomatic ties with Bangladesh. The other countries are Belgium, Canada, Egypt, Indonesia, Russia, Qatar, Singapore, United Kingdom, Australia, France, Japan, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and the United States of America.
Despite various challengesm including the unresolved Teesta water sharing issue, Bangladesh and India have made some great achievements, including the implementation of the Ganges Treaty, Land Boundary Agreement and addressing cross-boundary terrorism, foreign affairs analysts say.The two close neighbours also progressed significantly in terms of enhanced connectivity and trade, though logistics remains a challenge.
Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Distinguished Fellow Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya in a recent discussion said,Your agenda and my agenda are equally important. If you think my agenda is more important than the other, then you are not having equal treatment within a sovereign territory. I hope the leadership (of both India and Bangladesh) will give content to these concepts.
Shahriar said the last 50 years are testimony to how crucial Bangladesh-India relations are not only for bilateral partnership and peace, but also for greater regional stability and the development of the subcontinent.
It’s my firm conviction that the last 50 years will guide us in navigating the course of the next 50 years in the evolving scenario of the regional and global context, where the friendship and partnership would be deeper and more consolidated,he said.
