President Kovind to visit Bangladesh on 50th victory day

New Delhi, Dec 14 (UNI) India-Bangladesh relations are at a high point, and passing through a ‘shonali adhyay’ or golden period, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Tuesday, adding there was “no unease” in the ties due to the anti-CAA protests in India or the recent sectarian riots in Bangladesh.

Addressing the media on the eve of President Ram Nath Kovind’s three-day visit to Bangladesh to attend the 50th Victory Day celebrations there, the Foreign Secretary, referring to his visit to Dhaka earlier this month, said: “I would completely dispel any sense or any perception that there is any unease in the relationship. I think there is no unease in the relationship.”

“The relationship is an extraordinary one, it is not only a close relationship based on our multifaceted ties, it is based on ties of history, ties of culture, ties of language, and it is bound by people to people ties, which I think cannot be replicated very often in other cases.

“Those ties today are at a high point, and I think that relationship which is been born out of the very strong leadership level vision and guidance… very few countries can enjoy that kind of leadership level…and it reflects on the close and intensity of our ties.”

“And at no stage during my visit did I ever get the impression that there was anything which would lend any credence to what you just said. On the contrary it was made very clear to us that we are passing what is called a ‘shonali adhyay’, the two PMs had referred to our ties as a golden era, and I think that very much is present there,” he said, in answer to a query if the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act in India and the recent sectarian violence in Bangladesh had lent any unease in the ties.

He said President Kovind was visiting Bangladesh on a very significant occasion. “It is an occasion to cherish, and it is not an occasion on which we would either side like to have any issue that is outstanding, that is on the adverse, on the deficit side. I think we are looking at the relationship from a very very positive perspective.”

However, he did add: “Of course, with all our close neighbours and friends we need to keep managing that relationship, we need to make sure that any issues that come up are managed by the two sides, and if they are not addressed we can talk about them; but I think if you were to look at it in a objective perspective, this is really an excellent time for our relationship and the visit of the President will strongly reinforce those very strong bonds of friendship and cooperation between our two countries,” the Foreign Secretary added.

The FS said that it is President Kovind’s first visit abroad since the Covid pandemic, and signifies the importance Bangladesh attaches to the 50th Victory Day celebrations by inviting President Kovind to be the Guest of Honour to jointly celebrate the occasion as the only foreign dignitary who will be present.

The last presidential visit to Bangladesh from India was in 2013 by then president Pranab Mukherjee.

After reaching Dhaka tomorrow morning, President Kovind would proceed to Savar, where he will pay tribute at the National Martyr’s Memorial.

“The Pakistani army in its genocidal campaign during the struggle for Liberation killed three million people and committed horrific atrocities and the memorial honours those who suffered and died during this 1971 period,” the FS said.

He will also visit the Bangabandhu Memorial museum to pay respect to the memory of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of the nation of Bangladesh, and the father of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The birth centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is being celebrated as Mujib Borsho.

Later he will hold delegation level talks with the Bangladesh President, Abdul Hamid.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Dr AK Abdul Momen will call on President Kovind.

The Bangladesh President will host a banquet tomorrow in his honour at Banga Bhavan, which is the residence of the Bangladesh President.

On 16th forenoon, President Kovind will attend the Victory Day Parade at the National Parade Ground as Guest of Honour.

The parade will include a 122 member tri services contingent from the Indian armed forces, which is very unique and very special, the FS said.
In the evening he will attend as Guest of Honour the Victory Day Reception hosted by the President of Bangladesh in their Parliament premises to mark the conclusion of the Mujib Borsho celebrations.

He will also interact with the Mukti Jodhhdas, those Bangladeshis who took up arms to free their country with the Indian armed forces, and also with a delegation of Indian veterans who are visiting Bangladesh.

He will also interact with a cross section of Bangladeshi society, and the Indian community there, and visit places of cultural and historical importance in Bangladesh. He will depart for India on December 17.

“Bangladesh is a central pillar of our neighbourhood first policy and it is also a relationship where this policy intersects with elements of our Act East Policy,” the FS said