Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said her government looks forward to working together with India in the next 50 years and beyond towards realizing the shared vision of building a peaceful and prosperous region.
"The year 2021 was a historic one for Bangladesh-India relationship, marked by celebrations of epochal events and engagements at the highest levels," she said in a message to her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on the occasion of the Republic Day of India.
On behalf of the government and the people of Bangladesh and on her own behalf, Sheikh Hasina extended her warmest wishes and heartiest felicitations to Modi and the people of India on the occasion of the 73rd Republic Day of India.
The prime minister thankfully recalled Modi's visit to Dhaka in March 2021 to join the celebrations of the golden jubilee of the independence of Bangladesh, the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 50 years of establishment of diplomatic ties between Bangladesh and India.
"Your gracious presence on these occasions added extra enthusiasm to the celebrations and allowed us to further consolidate our excellent bilateral relations, which so happily exist between our two countries," she said.
Sheikh Hasina recalled with gratitude the support rendered by the government and people of India during the Liberation War in 1971 that set the foundation of a unique relationship.
The joint celebration of Maitri Diwas across the globe, held on December 6, the day when India recognized Bangladesh as a sovereign and independent State in 1971, projected this special relationship, she said.
"The unique ties of close friendship, cooperation, and trust between our two countries have flourished and grown from strength to strength in recent years. Many new frontiers of cooperation alongside all traditional areas have been identified, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic," Sheikh Hasina mentioned.
She said: "Let this joyous occasion be a special one, as India is also celebrating 'Azadika Amrit Mahotsav' to mark 75 years of independence."
