New Delhi: Highlighting the shared history between Delhi and Dhaka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called on Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor Mohammad Yunus to strengthen bilateral relations based on mutual sensitivity to each other’s interests and concerns. Modi’s outreach comes as tensions have arisen following violence against Hindu minorities in Bangladesh under Yunus’s interim government.
In a letter addressed to Yunus, Modi also extended his greetings to Bangladesh on the occasion of its National Day, and underscored the historical significance of the 1971 Liberation War, reiterating its role as the foundation of the strong and enduring ties between India and Bangladesh.
The PM highlighted the need for the relationship to be built on "mutual sensitivity to each other's interests and concerns". "We remain committed to advancing this partnership, driven by our common aspirations for peace, stability and prosperity, and based on mutual sensitivity to each other's interests and concerns," PM Modi wrote.
Bangladesh National Day, observed on March 26, marks the country's 1971 declaration of independence from Pakistan. India was the second nation, after Bhutan, to recognize Bangladesh as a sovereign and independent state on December 6, 1971. In March 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi designated this date as India-Bangladesh Friendship Day (Moitree Diwas).
