Indo-Bangladesh bonds ‘in large measure’ due to Indira Gandhi’s role: Sonia’s message to Sheikh Hasina

Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March 26

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday sent a congratulatory video message to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recalling the role late Indira Gandhi played in the liberation of Bangladesh and citing the challenges being faced by the two countries.

Gandhi said the special bond between the people of the two nations was largely due to the role Indira Gandhi played in 1971.

The Congress chief while noting the “economic, political and environmental challenges being faced by both the nations” added, “Most of all both Bangladesh and India which have been beacons for the celebrations of diversities are being called upon today to protect and strengthen their composite heritage and their glorious traditions of liberal pluralism.”

Gandhi’s message to Bangladesh

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who had invited her to be part of the birth centenary celebrations of the father of the nation ‘Bangabandhu’ Sheikh Mujibur Rehman and of the golden jubilee of Bangladesh’s independence also noted how 50 years ago the courageous people of Bangladesh scripted a whole new destiny for themselves transforming both the history and the geography of the subcontinent.

“Over the past five decades, Bangladesh’s remarkable achievements in social development, community participation, economic growth and other areas have been very impressive and have received global recognition. We in India have always had a special relationship with the people of Bangladesh. This has been in very large measure because of the role Indira Gandhi played in the historic events of 1971 and the deep bonds of mutual respect, admiration and deep friendship that Banga Bandhu and she established,” said Sonia Gandhi who could not visit Bangladesh due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions.

Gandhi said 1971 was as much a transformative year for India as it was for Bangladesh.

“It was a year that saw Indira Gandhi in all her magnificence as a political leader and statesman. Soon thereafter Sheikh Mujibur Rahman himself emerged on the world stage as the leader of his people,” Sonia recalled.

She said both India and Bangladesh face many challenges, economic, political and environmental, and mentioned how she personally “lived through the transformative hours, days, weeks and months of 1971 by Indira Gandhi’s side in her home along with late Rajiv Gandhi.”

“I am personally delighted to share the pride of Sheikh Hasina and millions of her countrymen and women,” said the Congress chief.