Strengthening Ties: India And Bangladesh Decide To Celebrate 6 December As “Maitri Diwas”

In a sign of further deepening of bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh, the two Southasian nations have decided to celebrate 6 December each year as "Maitri Diwas", marking the day when India had first recognised Bangladesh formally, reports Times of India.

As per a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in view of the 50th anniversary of the Independence of Bangladesh, as well as the establishment of the bilateral diplomatic ties, both nations have decided to jointly commemorate these epochal events in 19 select nations.

Both sides appreciated the participation of a 122-member tri-services contingent of the Bangladesh Armed Forces in the 2020 Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi. Bangladesh also welcomed the Indian announcement of 1,000 Shuborno Jayanti Scholarships for Bangladeshi students.

It should also be noted that during the visit to Dhaka, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi invited PM Sheikh Hasina to visit India in 2022 to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

PM Hasina also thanked India for conferring the Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2020 on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The two sides also expressed satisfaction with the progress made towards the filming of the biopic on Rahman under the direction of Indian film director Shyam Benegal. The filming has already commenced and is expected to be completed as per the schedule.