India, Bangladesh friendship scripts Golden Chapter: MEA

India-Bangladesh friendship has traversed a long journey since the 1970s and a Shonali Adhyaya – Golden Chapter – has been scripted, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Monday.

“India-Bangladesh Maitri forged in shared martyrdom during the Liberation War, has traversed a 50-year journey towards scripting Shonali Adhyaya in bilateral relations,” tweeted MEA spokesman Arindam Bagchi.

He said this year would hold a special significance as in 2021, both the countries jointly celebrate Maitri Diwas,  Friendship Day under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina.

In another missive, he wrote: “Today we mark 50 years of India recognizing an independent, sovereign Bangladesh.  India was one of the first countries to establish bilateral diplomatic ties with Bangladesh on December 6, 1971.”

Notably, the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 also coincided with the Bangladesh Liberation War commenced on December 3, 1971, and continued till December 16.

After India achieved an upper hand, the Eastern Command of the Pakistan military signed the  Instrument of Surrender on December 16, 1971 in Dhaka, marking the formation of the new nation of Bangladesh.

MEA spokesman Arindam Bagchi has said last week that during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bangladesh in March 2021, it was decided to commemorate December 6 as the Maitri Diwas or the Friendship Day.

“Ten days before the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971, India had recognised Bangladesh on December 6, 1971. India was one of the first countries to establish bilateral diplomatic ties with Bangladesh,” he said.

The Maitri Diwas will be commemorated in 18 countries around the world apart from Dhaka and New Delhi.

These countries are Belgium, Canada, Egypt, Indonesia, Russia, Qatar, Singapore, UK, Australia, France,  Japan, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand, UAE and USA.

The holding of Maitri Diwas is a reflection of the deep and abiding friendship between the people of India and Bangladesh that have been forged in blood and shared sacrifices, the MEA has said earlier.

Prime Minister Modi during his visit to Bangladesh in March had tried to unveil a new roadmap for a shared future with its key eastern neighbour Bangladesh.

Modi’s parting remarks to his hostess and Bangladeshi counterpart, Sheikh Hasina, was that his visit had given “nayi urja, nayi gati (new energy, new pace)’ to the relationship.

Teesta water sharing issue also figured prominently.

Notably, both the Prime Ministers had directed their respective Ministries of Water Resources to work towards an early conclusion of the Framework of Interim Agreement on sharing of waters of six common rivers, namely, Manu, Muhuri, Khowai, Gumti, Dharla and Dudhkumar.

The Joint Statement also has said: “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reiterated Bangladesh’s long-pending request for concluding the interim agreement on the sharing of the waters of the Teesta river”.