As India and Bangladesh commemorate 50 years of ties by observing the day as Friendship Day,  Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he looks forward to continuing working with Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina to further expand and deepen bilateral ties. “Today India and Bangladesh commemorate Maitri Diwas. We jointly recall and celebrate the foundations of our 50 years of friendship. I look forward to continuing working with H.E. PM Sheikh Hasina to further expand and deepen our ties,” Modi tweeted.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi in tweets said:

“Today we mark 50 years of India recognizing an independent, sovereign Bangladesh.

“India was one of the first countries to establish bilateral diplomatic ties with Bangladesh on December 6, 1971.

"India-Bangladesh Maitri (friendship) forged in shared martyrdom during the Liberation War, has traversed a 50-year journey towards scripting Shonali Adhyaya (golden era) in bilateral relations.

“This year both countries jointly celebrate #MaitriDiwas under the leadership of PM @narendramodi & Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina.”

During the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bangladesh in March 2021 to attend the national day of Bangladesh, it was decided to commemorate December 6 as Maitri Diwas (Friendship Day).

Ten days before the birth of Bangladesh out of Pakistan, through a military operation midwifed by India, India had already recognised Bangladesh on 6 December 1971. India was one of the first countries to establish bilateral diplomatic ties with Bangladesh.

The holding of Maitri Diwas (Friendship Day) is a reflection of the deep and abiding friendship between the peoples of India and Bangladesh that has been forged in blood and shared sacrifices, an official statement said.

To mark the historic occasion, President Ram Nath Kovind is to pay a state visit to Bangladesh December 15-17 to attend the 50th Victory Day celebrations of Bangladesh.

During the visit, President Kovind will hold a delegation-level meeting with Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid. He will also confer with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign MinisterA.K. Abdul Momen.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had paid a State Visit to Bangladesh from March 26-27, this year to join the celebrations of the golden jubilee of the independence of Bangladesh, the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 50 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh.

Bangladesh is a major pillar of India’s Neighbourhood First Policy. India and Bangladesh share progressive, comprehensive and substantial cooperation in diverse areas ranging from security, border management and defence, water resources, trade, transport & connectivity, health, culture and people-to-people ties, energy and power to development partnership and sub-regional cooperation. Both countries have closely cooperated in addressing challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, an official statement said.

The upcoming visit of the President on this historic occasion is a reflection of the high priority that both countries attach to the bilateral relationship. It also reaffirms the shared desire of both countries to further consolidate and strengthen the multifaceted and irreversible partnership, based on historical and cultural ties, mutual trust and understanding, the statement added.

"The relationship is beyond bilateral engagement; the two neighbours are working towards multiplying regional connectivity and boosting growth corridors," said Sreeradha Datta, Centre Head, Neighbourhood Studies, Vivekananda International Foundation, New Delhi. 

"The two neighbours are not only close neighbours working together on a gamut of bilateral ties but also building a new growth story," added Datta, who is a known Bangladesh expert and has authored books and papers on bilateral ties (SAM)

(SAM)