Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in a rare visit to the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi,  said the relationship between the two countries is going through a "golden phase". He paid rich tributes to brave soldiers of the Indian Armed Forces, who stood steadfast with Bangladesh during the War of Liberation of Bangladesh, saying that it marked a golden chapter in world history in the 20th century. The two countries are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the birth of Bangladesh that was midwifed by India after a war with Pakistan. Bangladesh was born out of former East Pakistan. 

"India-Bangladesh bilateral ties have been passing through a "shonali adhyay"' (golden phase in Bengali). While cooperation in traditional areas like security, trade, connectivity and people-to-people exchanges have steadily deepened, the partnership is expanding to new and emerging areas like nuclear technology, IT, innovation and blue economy," he said.

He added that India and Bangladesh are strong partners in bringing progress and prosperity for the people of South Asia through robust and expanding regional cooperation.

"Both are facing challenges, which are similar. Today, we are fighting shoulder-to-shoulder against common challenges such as poverty and hunger, surge of terrorism, extremist ideologies and climate change," he said.

Singh said India is keen to continue working closely with Bangladesh, helping and supporting each other’s defence and security concerns, according to UNI news agency.

"It is remarkable that all three Service Chiefs of Bangladesh have visited India this year and from India, the Chiefs of Army and Air Force visited Bangladesh this year," he added.

"It is all the more important, because the forces which brought untold atrocities and miseries on Bangladesh in 1971, and forces against whom we spilt our blood together, are far from finished and gone. They are lurking around us in different forms and excuses, but indistinguishable from their past in spewing hatred, intolerance and violence," he said.

"Our tasks are no less formidable than they were in 1971. Reaching out to new generations with true stories of 1971 is the least we can do," he added.

(SAM)