New Delhi: Asserting that seldom has humanity witnessed sacrifices on a scale so epic as during the 1971 War of Liberation, President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday said Bangladesh’s struggle for freedom has a special place in the hearts of every Indian.
President Kovind also lauded Bangladesh’s Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman fondly called ‘Bongo Bandhu’.
“I was inspired as a youth by the moral courage of Bongo Bandhu. Like millions of others, I was electrified by his powerful voice and the understanding that it carried the aspirations of 70 million people of Bangladesh at that time,” he said in his address at the Victory Day and Mujib Borsho celebrations at the National Parliament of Bangladesh.
President Kovind said millions of Indians of his generation were elated by the victory of Bangladesh over an “oppressive regime” and were deeply inspired by the faith and courage of the people of the country.
He said the world with the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War learnt a very important lesson that the will of the majority of the people cannot be subjugated by any force.
The President said the ideological map of South Asia changed irreversibly 50 years ago and the proud nation of Bangladesh was born.
“On this occasion, I pay tribute to the memory of the untold suffering of tens of millions of people of Bangladesh, especially the brutalized daughters, sisters and mothers. It is their sacrifice and the righteousness of the cause of Bangladesh that has transformed the region,” he added.
President Kovind further said India has always attached highest priority to its friendship with Bangladesh.
“History will always be witness to unique foundation of our friendship forced in people's war that liberated Bangladesh,” said President Kovind.
“We remain committed to doing all we can to help realise full potential of our friendship with Bangladesh,” he added.
Earlier in the day, President Kovind attended the Victory Day Parade at the National Parade Ground in Dhaka. A 122-member tri-services contingent from Indian Armed Forces also participated in the Victory Day celebrations.
The President, who is on a three-day visit to Bangladesh, on his arrival in Dhaka earlier on Wednesday assured that “Bangladesh has a special place in India’s ‘Neighbourhood First' Policy.”
President Kovind, who is visiting Bangladesh at the invitation of his counterpart M. Abdul Hamid to attend the golden jubilee celebration of Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan in 1971, also held talks which were followed by a banquet organised by the host.
He also attended some cultural programmes organised on the occasion. This is President Kovind’s first trip abroad after Covid-19.
Earlier on Wednesday, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted: “President Kovind @rashtrapatibhvn welcomed by Bangladesh President HE Md. Abdul Hamid for their bilateral meeting at Bangabhaban. Further expanding bilateral ties based on sovereignty, equality, trust and understanding that transcend even a strategic partnership.”
In his talks, the President reiterated that the relationship between India and Bangladesh is “mature enough to handle the most complex of problems.”
Before the talks, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called upon the Indian President to discuss “several issues of mutual interest and bilateral cooperation.”
PM Hasina’s press secretary, Ihsanul Karim said that President Kovind told her that he is very happy to be a part of three grand celebrations, i.e. “birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh's independence and diplomatic relationship between the countries.”
Highlighting the relations between both sides, the Bangladesh Prime Minister said: “Exchange of visits between the countries even amid the COVID-19 situation is the testimony of warm relationship between the two countries.”