Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma has said they strongly believe that their partnership with Bangladesh must benefit the common people on both sides, stressing that their relations have always been people-centric.
"We remain confident that the reality of our cultural and societal connections and the logic of our interdependence and mutual benefit will keep guiding our relationship forward," he said.
Speaking at a reception celebrating the 76th Republic Day of India at a city hotel on Saturday (25 January) evening, High Commissioner Verma said they have and will continue to support a "democratic, stable, peaceful, progressive and inclusive" Bangladesh.
He said India will continue to seek a "stable, positive, constructive, forward-looking and mutually beneficial relationship" with Bangladesh, in which people are the main stakeholders.
Planning and Education Adviser Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud spoke at the event as the chief guest.
The adviser said over the years, the two countries collaborated in a wide range of areas, and Bangladesh is committed towards strengthening the relationship based on mutual respect and understanding of each other’s perspectives, concerns and priorities.
Political leaders including, emeritus president of the Gono Forum Dr Kamal Hossain, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Jatiya Party leaders including its Chairman GM Quader, Advisers including Dr Asif Nazrul, Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin, senior dignitaries from the government and Armed Forces of Bangladesh, Ambassadors and High Commissioners, businesses leaders, editors, civil society members, think-tanks and celebrities were present.
As they celebrate India’s 76th Republic Day, High Commissioner Verma said they look at their long-standing relations with Bangladesh with "great importance" and wished the people of Bangladesh well on their journey ahead.
"As a neighbour to whom we take a long-term view of our relations, our ties with Bangladesh derive strength from our belief that our peace, security, progress and prosperity are interlinked," the High Commissioner said.
He said both Bangladesh and India are important stakeholders in the peace and development of Bay of Bengal.
"Our collaboration is vital to address shared challenges of environmental sustainability and climate change."
High Commissioner Verma said their mutual interlinkages and shared interdependence have been reinforced by a rapidly transforming landscape of connectivity and economic engagement bringing the societies, people and businesses closer together.
"These transformative changes that have taken place over the years in our relations and which have unlocked the growth potential of the region, are results of mutual sensitivity that we have shown to each other’s concerns and aspirations," he said.
It will remain important in guiding the future development of the Bangladesh-India relationship, the Indian envoy said.
As two aspirational societies, Verma reiterated that there is so much that they can offer to each other, and to the region, when they work together, transforming their geographical proximity into new opportunities.
Seventy-five years ago, in 1950 on 26 January the people of an independent India through their Constituent Assembly gave themselves a constitution and declared India a sovereign republic.
These 76 years have been an extraordinary journey for India from the throes of impoverishment to a modern capable nation playing an increasingly important role in the progress of humanity and offering solutions to global challenges, said High Commissioner Verma.
This transformation is not just about economic growth, but also about good governance, he mentioned.
"It is about people’s empowerment through technology. It is about securing inclusive and sustainable development," said the Indian diplomat.
With its size, capability and ambition, and as the fastest growing large economy in the world, India’s transformation today is creating new capacities and generating opportunities for the entire world, Verma said.
And in this journey, he mentioned, Bangladesh has been an important partner for them, joined by shared history and geography linked by common language, culture and traditions and connected emotionally by the shared sacrifices of the Liberation War.
"Our relations have always been people-centric, linked by familial and societal connections on both sides of the border. Our shared love for literature, music, and art defines our ties," said the high commissioner.
From Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam, whose works connect the cultures and literatures, to the rich traditions of dance, theater, and cinema, people of two nations share a deep cultural affinity that also fosters mutual trust and understanding, and mutual respect, he said.
Indian President Droupadi Murmu led the Nation in celebrating the 76th Republic Day from Kartavya Path in New Delhi on 26 January 2025.
With a special focus on 75 years of enactment of the Constitution and Jan Bhagidari, the celebrations this year are a unique blend of India’s rich cultural diversity, unity, equality, development, and military prowess.
President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto is the chief guest.
Around 10,000 Special Guests have been invited to witness the parade, in line with the Indian Government’s objective to increase "Jan Bhagidari" in events of national importance.
These special guests from different walks of life are the architects of ‘Swarnim Bharat’. They include best performers in various fields and those who have made the best use of the schemes of the government.
