Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Thursday, said that ever since taking office, it has been his priority to strengthen the relationship between India and Bangladesh.
Modi, who said this at a virtual summit with the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, stressed that Bangladesh was a significant pillar of India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ foreign policy.
“Bangladesh is a significant pillar of our ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy.
“To strengthen and deepen our relations with Bangladesh has been a priority for me since the first day.
“It is true that because of the pandemic, this year has been challenging but in these challenging times, the relations between the two countries, have seen immense cooperation,’’ Modi said,
The summit is being held, a day after ‘Vijay Diwas’, a yearly event celebrated to mark India’s victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war that led to the creation of Bangladesh.
“It is an honour for us to celebrate Bangladesh’s victory against the anti-liberation forces with you.
“When Bangladesh is celebrating 50 years of Independence, I would want to pay tribute to the martyrs of both nations, who sacrificed their lives,’’ Modi added.
The Prime Minister also thanked the Bangladeshi Prime Minister for inviting him for a visit to the nation in 2021, which he said “would be an honour to pay tribute to the martyrs’’.
India and Bangladesh have continued to maintain regular exchanges at the highest level with Bangladesh Prime Minister, paying an official visit to India in October 2019.
Modi had delivered a video message on the historic occasion of ‘Mujib Borsho’ in March 2020, and leaders have remained in regular touch during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bangladesh is commemorating the year 2020 as ‘Mujib Borsho’, which is the birth centenary of the founding father of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, popularly known as Bangabandhu.Deepening India-Bangladesh relations, my top priority – Modi
