On 6 February 1972, at Kolkata’s Parade Ground, Bangladesh Prime Minister Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman emphasized that “Our friendship with India is eternal and extremely abiding”. Similarly, on 25 March 2021, Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi tweeted “Our partnership with Bangladesh is an important pillar of our Neighbourhood First policy, and we are committed to further deepen and diversity it”. From these two statements, one can understand the depth and the importance of a consolidated Bangladesh-India relationship. It is also evident that because of the visionary leadership of Sheikh Hasina in Bangladesh and Manmohan Singh and later Narendra Modi in India, Dhaka and Delhi has scripted a golden chapter in their bilateral ties, which has created an example for many in the region and beyond.
Bangladesh, which was earlier known as East Bengal, had strong cultural, civilizational and trading linkages with India. Thus, the historical imperatives also reveal a strong bonding between Bangladesh and India. It is also worthwhile to mention that the Indian contribution to the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh has been one of the most robust foundations in Bangladesh-India relations. Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu’s vision of good neighbourly and fraternal Bangladesh-India relations inspired the Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to transform the paradigm of Bangladesh-India relations. [Read full article from here]
