India a true friend, says Bangladesh PM

Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, thanking India for its support during 1971 Bangladesh liberation war, has said that “India is our true friend”.

Ms Hasina was addressing a virtual summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi a day after the 50th anniversary of India’s win over Pakistan in the 1971 war that led to the birth of Bangladesh as an independent nation.

“India is our true friend,” the Prime Minister said. “I pay deep homage to the three million martyrs who laid down their lives. I pay tribute to the members of the Indian armed forces martyred in the war and to their families. I pay my gratitude to the government and the people of India who extended their whole hearted support for the cause of our nation,” she said.

Modi said Bangladesh is a “key pillar” of India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy. “We feel proud to celebrate “Bijoy Dibosh” with you to mark Bangladesh’s victory over anti-liberation forces,” he said.

He also thanked his Bangladeshi counterpart for inviting him for a visit to the neighbouring nation next year where he said that “it would be an honour” to pay tribute “to the martyrs”.

“It has been key priority for me to strengthen ties with Bangladesh,” he said.

After facing defeat in the 1971 war, the then Army Chief of Pakistan General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, along with his 93,000 troops, surrendered to Indian forces.

At the virtual summit, India and Bangladesh also sealed seven agreements to expand cooperation in diverse areas, and restored a cross-border rail link which was in operation till 1965. Modi and Hasina jointly inaugurated a digital exhibition on Mahatama Gandhi and Bangladesh’s founder.