Castro said: “I have not seen the Himalayas. But I have seen Sheikh Mujib. In personality and in courage, this man is the Himalayas. I have thus had the experience of witnessing the Himalayas.”
Embracing Bangabandhu the former Cuban president made the remarks in the 1973 Non-Aligned Movement Summit held in Algiers.
Fidel Castro played a great supporting role in the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh, and its government in 2013 honoured him with “Muktijuddo Moitree Sommanona” for his contribution.
He was among the 69 foreign friends and organisations picked for the honour.
Cuba’s ambassador in India, Abelardo Cueto, received the award on his behalf from the hands of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on March 24 that year.
Fidel Castro died on Friday, says state-run Cuban Television. He was 90. He was in poor health since an intestinal ailment nearly killed him in 2006.
He took power in a 1959 revolution and ruled Cuba for 49 years with a mix of charisma and iron will, creating a one-party state and becoming a central figure in the Cold War.
The bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Cuba have been warm with both the countries putting their efforts to strengthen it further and Cubans can get visa on arrival in Bangladesh.
Both countries have identified pharmaceutical industries as a potential sector for the economic cooperation between them.
Thursday, June 04, 2026
