‘India respects Bangladesh for founding values’

Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Vikram Doraiswami has said India respects Bangladesh for the values on which the country was founded.

"The respect that we (Indians) have for Bangladesh comes from these (values). It comes from what Bangladesh is to Bangladesh," he said. The Indian envoy also said that the ideals and values of the Liberation War are the foundation upon which the bilateral ties between India and Bangladesh are flourishing.

He was speaking at an intergenerational dialogue titled 'Liberation War and Its Values – Across the Ages', held at the High Commission on Tuesday. It was organised by the Indian high commission in association with Youth Opportunities.

"Bangladesh's success is a land mark and lesson for everyone in the region including India," he said, adding that India is looking forward to the joint commemoration of 50 years of the war in 2021, also the 50th year of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Aroma Dutta, MP; Prof Muntassir Mamoon; Nasiruddin Yousuf Bacchu; and Julian Francis OBE participated in the discussion moderated by Shahriar Kabir.

The panelists interacted with a cross-section of Bangladeshi youths that included illustrators, radio professionals, and entrepreneurs.

The High Commissioner also launched a writing competition, titled 'What Liberation Means to Me?', conducted by the High Commission of India in association with Youth Opportunities.

Bangladeshi youth between the ages of 18-35 can participate in the competition by submitting entries in Bangla and English.