Relationship between India and Bangladesh at present is all time best, said health and family welfare minister of Bangladesh Mohammed Nasim who reached here on Friday evening to take part in the ‘Vijay Divas’ (Victory Day) programme at Agartala.
He was speaking to Indian and Bangladeshi reporters at the zero point of Akhaura integrated check post in the Tripura-Bangladesh border.
Nasim said, “With unconditional help from India and from crores of its population we achieved victory in our liberation war on December 16, 1971. The liberation war that was initiated under the leadership of Bangabandhu, the Father of the Nation of Bangladesh and in which the then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, her government, the Indian Army and people helped us by giving us shelter, food and even blood for the liberation of Bangladesh, we and our people can never forget that.”
He further said it gives great happiness to him for being in India and especially Tripura on the eve of Vijay Divas and at present a natural relation has been created between the Indian and Bangladeshi population and which will further strengthen with every passing day.
The Bangladesh Minister said, “Economically both this nations have been working closely and everyone is aware about it and especially between the present governments of India and the Bangladesh who have signed agreements sometimes back. Bilateral trade relations during the tenure of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have also improved. We are working closely in the power, transit and other sectors. Meantime, the biggest hurdle was the disputed border and which has been resolved with the implementation border agreement, so I believe this is the best time of all in the Indo-Bangladesh relationship.”
Observed on December 16 every year, ‘Vijay Divas’ marks India’s decisive military victory over arch-rival Pakistan that led to the creation of Bangladesh as an independent nation.
Altogether 93,000 Pakistani troops and officers surrendered to the joint command of Indian army and Mukti Bahini on that day.