Bangladesh, India will largely drive South Asia’s growth: Ambassador Keiderling
Ambassador Kelly Keiderling, USA's South and Central Asian Affairs Bureau Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, has said that her country greatly values its partnerships with Bangladesh and India and the two countries will largely drive future growth and prosperity of South Asia.
She made these remarks at a reception jointly organised by the embassies of Bangladesh and India in Washington DC yesterday to celebrate "Friendship Day" -- marking 50 years of India-Bangladesh diplomatic relationship.
The reception was part of celebrations organised in 18 foreign capitals. US officials, including Senior Director of the White House National Security Council Sumona Guha, Director General (nominee) of US Foreign Service Ambassador Marcia Bernicat, and President of the US-Bangladesh Business Council as well as US-India Business Council Nisha Biswal, were present.
The ceremony began with the observance of "one-minute silence" to honour the martyrs of Bangladesh and India in the War of Liberation, reports our New Delhi correspondent.
Keiderling said that US observes the abiding friendship between Bangladesh and India and that has remained as a source of strength and stability in the region in the changing geopolitical scenario.
Bangladesh Ambassador to the US, M Shahidul Islam, paid deep tribute to the memory of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and remembered with great respect three million martyrs of the Liberation War and numerous Indian soldiers who fought side by side and gave their lives.
The ambassador recalled the great support extended by India during the Liberation War and stated that the relations between the two countries have deepened, matured, and expanded in many areas of cooperation over the years.
He hoped that Bangladesh and India, together with the US, would continue to work together in a spirt of mutual support and cooperation to ensure a prosperous South Asia.
Indian Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, in a video message, said that India and Bangladesh today share comprehensive ties that have origins in the deep-rooted friendship between the two countries since the war of liberation.
Sandhu said that friendship between Bangladesh and India keeps growing stronger, as many long-standing matters between the two countries have been resolved amicably.
He underscored the importance of both the countries working together to address common challenges like terrorism and Covid-19 pandemic to ensure peace and security in the region.
The reception was followed by cultural performances by Bangladeshi and Indian performers and screening of a documentary on the 50 years of Bangladesh-India relations.
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