Bangladesh's liberation changes ideological map of SA: Doraiswami

Indian High Commissioner Vikram Kumar Doraiswami Monday said the Liberation of Bangladesh not only changed the political map of South Asia but also changed the ideological ground of the region showing that different religious groups can live together. "It (Bangladesh's liberation)) also changed our ideological map: your freedom proved beyond doubt that the common bonds of culture, civilization, and language transcend the false theory that different religious groups cannot live together," he said. The Indian envoy made the remarks while the Indian high commission here celebrated the first India-Bangladesh 'Maitri Diwas' at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the capital this evening.

This day marks the recognition of an independent and sovereign Bangladesh, by India and Bhutan, fifty years ago - ten days before Bangladesh was actually liberated. The decision to mark December 6 as Maitri Diwas' was taken by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the state visit of Indian premier here in March this year. The Indian high commissioner said the two countries have made important achievements especially in the last decade.

Monday, Doraiswami said, India and Bangladesh are the closest partners in the political, diplomatic, commercial, economic, developmental, cultural, security, and even people-to-people fronts. "In the next 50 years, we will have much to do to build on the foundation of our friendship and our history together," he said.

Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhary was present as the Chief Guest with Cabinet Ministers including foreign minister Dr Ak Abdul Momen, Members of Parliament, the Chief of the Army Staff, Secretaries to the Government, senior officials, IGP, leaders of business and industry, media, academia and civil society were present.

Bangladeshi nationals selected for India's highest civilian honours, in the years 2020 and 2021, were specially invited and felicitated in presence of the august gathering. As testimony to the unique foundations of friendship and the remarkable journey of Bangladesh over the past 50 years, both the countries are celebrating 'Maitri Diwas' not only in Delhi and Dhaka, but in 18 other cities worldwide.