Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram Kumar Doraiswami on Saturday hoped that the traditional spirit of happiness, friendship, peace, and harmony will only grow in Bangladesh that remains true to the founding vision and values of its Liberation War.
The high commissioner made the remarks at the Janmashtami festival in Dhakeshwari temple organized by Mahanagar Sarbojoneen Puja Committee in Dhaka.
He hoped that, in the years ahead, Indian and Bangladeshi people will continue to fully celebrate every festival that makes the subcontinent the world’s most diverse region.
“There can be no progress for either one of the countries individually and we need each other’s cooperation to ensure a peaceful, stable, secure neighbourhood, and an interconnected sub-region,” he added.
Referring to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s repeated remarks “Dharmo Jar Jar - Utsob Sabar”, Doraiswami said this is the spirit that inspired the Liberation War of 1971 and the magnificent, inclusive and progressive 1972 Constitution of Bangladesh.
“Besides, India is committed to this goal for the equal progress of both of the countries; this is why we are invested in creating a broad-based and people-centric development partnership aimed at all people and communities,” the Indian envoy observed.
Regardless of that, the envoy said all of his predecessors have worked single-mindedly to seek friendship with the people of Bangladesh throughout its history, and with all shades of Bangladeshi opinion, they have given the highest priority to this friendship and will always hope that this is reciprocated by all groups and parties here as well.
The high commissioner further said the bond between India and Bangladesh was indeed forged in unique circumstances of the tragedy, sacrifice and great humanitarian distress, and shared struggle in the face of a brutal and genocidal oppressor.
“Thus, the bond that has been sustained since 1971 builds upon that foundation and goes much further. Both of these independent, equal, sovereign nations with millennia-old bonds of common history, language, culture and heritage, as well as shared values of harmonious co-existence, and respect for diversity and inclusion,” he continued.
Doraiswami mentioned that the Bangladesh-India partnership is based on this mutual respect and shared prosperity of people and the nations are inspired by truly pluralist values as both understand that national progress can only be achieved through fairness, compassion and an equal opportunity for all.
He added: “Every effort on both sides to deepen the partnership is based solely on the understanding that it will benefit the people of both countries as they share every possible commonality, plus nearly 4,100km of border.”
Besides Doraiswami, LGRD Minister Md Tajul Islam also spoke at the event as the chief guest.
