Bangladesh to work with India in building a prosperous region: Sheikh Hasina

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi
AFP File Photo

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said Bangladesh is looking forward to working with India in the next 50 years and beyond in realising the shared vision of building a peaceful and prosperous region, reports UNB.

"The year 2021 was a historic one for the Bangladesh-India relationship, marked by celebrations of epochal events and engagements at the highest levels," she said in a message to her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on the occasion of the 73rd Republic Day of India.

On behalf of the government and the people of Bangladesh and on her own behalf, Sheikh Hasina extended her warmest wishes and heartiest felicitations to Modi and the people of India to mark the event.

The prime minister thankfully recalled Modi's visit to Dhaka in March 2021 to join the celebrations of the Golden Jubilee of the Independence of Bangladesh, the birth centenary of father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and 50 years of establishment of diplomatic ties between Bangladesh and India.

"Your gracious presence on these occasions had added extra enthusiasm to the celebrations and allowed us to further consolidate our excellent bilateral relations, which so happily exist between our two countries," she said.

Hasina recalled with gratitude the support rendered by the government and the people of India during the Liberation War in 1971 that set the foundation of a unique relationship.

The joint celebration of 'Moitri Dibosh,' across the globe, held on 6 December, the day when India recognised Bangladesh as a sovereign and independent State in 1971, projected this special relationship, she said.

"The unique ties of close friendship, cooperation, and trust between our two countries have flourished and grown from strength to strength in recent years. Many new frontiers of cooperation alongside all traditional areas have been identified, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic," Hasina mentioned.

She said, "Let this joyous occasion be a special one, as India is also celebrating 'Azadika Amrit Mahotsav' to mark 75 years of her independence."