Indo-Bangla ties is not MoUs, it’s based on ‘mutual respect’, says Hasina

Within months of the nation's independence in 1971, nearly all 10 million refugees were home in their independent country by March 25, 1972. It is also seldom seen anywhere in the world that Indian forces supporting the Mukti Bahini were withdrawn within less than three months of the liberation.

New Delhi: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that the India-Bangladesh friendship is not confined to treating and MoUs, but rather is based on trust, mutual respect and equality.

"Our partnership is not confined to treaties, MoUs, bilateral agreements that provide the formal structures for our working relations. Today, our broad partnership has matured, taking dynamic, comprehensive and strategic shape, and is based on sovereignty, equality, trust and mutual respect," said Ms Hasina in video footage shared especially to celebrate India-Bangladesh Maitri Diwason on December 6.

Noting that India recognised Bangladesh as an independent and sovereign nation on December 6, 1971, she said Bangladesh and India are celebrating the Golden Jubilee of establishing diplomatic relations. "This is a milestone in the journey of our bilateral relations."

India and Bangladesh observed Maitri Divas or friendship day on December 6 in Dhaka, New Delhi, and 18 other countries worldwide. These countries are Saudi Arabia, Belgium, Canada, Egypt, Indonesia, Russia, Qatar, Singapore, the UK, Australia, France, Japan, Malaysia, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand, the UAE, and the United States.

During Prime Minister Modi's visit to Bangladesh in March 2021, the two countries decided to commemorate December 6 as the Maitri Divas. Since 2014, both nations have witnessed remarkable progress in cooperation in many areas, including security, power, trade and commerce, energy and connectivity. The Riyadh-based embassies of India and Bangladesh also marked 50 years of friendship with a glittering 'Maitri Divas' celebration on Monday evening. 

In his remarks, Indian Ambassador Dr. Ausaf Sayeed said that noted film director Shyam Benegal is filming Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's biopic, which will feature his legacy.

The Indian envoy to Dhaka, Vikram Kumar Doraiswami, has said Bangladesh's Freedom proved "beyond doubt that the common bonds of culture, civilisation and language transcend the false theory that different religious groups cannot live together." The Indian High Commissioner also said that it is an example, seldom seen in history, that nearly 7 million refugees went home within six weeks of the liberation of Bangladesh. 

Nearly all 10 million refugees were home in their independent country by March 25, 1972. It is also an example, seldom seen anywhere in the world that Indian forces supporting the Mukti Bahini were withdrawn within less than three months of the liberation, Doraiswami said.