Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said relations between Bangladesh and India have embarked on “a landmark moment” as Bangladesh is set to celebrate 50 years as an independent nation next year.
“Bangladesh and India have also stepped into the 50th year of establishment of diplomatic relations,” she said at the summit meeting with her counterpart Narendra Modi.
“Further, we are celebrating the 100th birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Just a few months ago, we concluded celebrations of the 150th birth anniversary of your Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi,” she said.
“In Bangladesh, we released a special postal stamp as a mark of tribute to Bapuji. I understand today we will be inaugurating a stamp issued by the Postal Department of India in honour of Bangabandhu,” she added.
Sheikh Hasina conveyed her sincere gratitude to the Indian premier and the Indian government for “so spontaneously coming together to mark these important occasions” with joint celebrations.
“We have chalked out joint programmes throughout the coming year in cities worldwide, to commemorate our inseparable linkages in Bangladesh’s Liberation War of 1971.”
“The crowning glory of our joint commemoration would be your presence in Dhaka for the celebrations on 26th March 2021,” she said.
She paid rich tribute to members of the Indian armed forces martyred in the 1971 Liberation War and the government and people of India who extended their whole-hearted support to the cause of Bangladesh’s liberation.
working down on the memory lane, Sheikh Hasina said, “Today (December 17) is a special day for us. We, my mother, younger sister Sheikh Rehana, Russell, four-month old little Joy and me were under the captivity of Pakistani occupation forces. Col Ashok Tara of India, who was then a major, made us free from the captivity in the morning of December 17, 1971.”
“Bangladesh got freed on December 16, but we got freed on December 17,” she said, adding, “On this day (December 17), I have expressed my sincere gratitude to Col Ashok Tara.”
Mentioning that she was happy to meet her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi again, particularly in this month of Victory, Sheikh Hasina said, “December evokes in all Bangladeshis the spirit of joy, freedom and celebration as we recall with deep gratitude our Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman under whose dynamic leadership, we earned our great independence.”
The PM also paid deep homage to the three million martyrs who laid down their lives and more than two hundred thousand women who sacrificed their honour for Bangladesh’s independence in 1971.
She suggested further integrating economies of Bangladesh and India to consolidate the global and regional value chains cashing in on the available synergies.
“I believe both our countries can move up the global and regional value chains by further integrating our economies taking advantage of available synergies,” she said.
Describing the ongoing connectivity initiatives between the two next-door neighbours as catalysts in this regard, the premier said, “A prime example is the resumption of Chilahati-Haldibari rail link which we inaugurated today.”
Sheikh Hasina led the Bangladesh delegation from her official Ganabhaban residence here while Narendra Modi led the Indian delegation joining the meeting online from New Delhi.
“We happily recognise the growing mutual dependence of the economies of Bangladesh and India. A great many Indian nationals are employed in the manufacturing and service sector of Bangladesh and they are remittance earners for India. On the other hand, India receives its highest number of tourists and medical patients from Bangladesh,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina recalled her last meeting with Narendra Modi in October 2019 at the grand Hyderabad House in New Delhi, saying, “Much has changed since then. The world has witnessed an upheaval and mankind’s ability to counter the invisible has been put to the test. Millions of lives have been lost, livelihoods destroyed, economies slowed down, societies disrupted.”
“Perhaps the most stark manifestation of the COVID-19 pandemic is that people to people contacts have been forced to a standstill. Our hopes to welcome you in Dhaka earlier this year could not be fulfilled.” she continued.
“Yet, I commend the manner in which concerned authorities on both sides have taken forward our bilateral cooperation during these trying times, as per directives of our last Summit,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina mentioned that throughout 2020 they witnessed a number of initiatives such as trade through rail routes, high level visits and meetings, capacity-building initiatives, the first trial run of Indian cargo from Kolkata to North-East India and of course, cooperation on COVID-19.
Commending Narendra Modi for the manner in which his government has countered the COVID-19 in one of the world’s most affected and populated zones, she said, “Apart from the health care packages, the economic packages introduced under your initiative of “Atmanirbhar Bharat” is admirable.”
“We believe India will play an even more important role in the global economy through your policies taken,” said the Prime Minister.
