The governments of Bangladesh and India are jointly going to celebrate the ‘Golden Jubilee of the Independence of Bangladesh’ this year.
In this regard, both Bangladesh and India have chalked out various programmes.
To commemorate the month of the victory, Sheikh Rehana, the youngest daughter of Bangabandhu and sister of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has been invited to deliver the 'Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Lecture' in Delhi on December 6.
Besides, to take part in the celebration of the ‘Golden Jubilee of the Independence of Bangladesh’ Indian President Ram Nath Kovind is scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh on a three-day visit.
The Indian President is scheduled to stay in Bangladesh for three days from December 15 to December 17.
It should be mentioned that in the last 50 years, no head of state or government of India has taken part in the Victory Day celebrations in Bangladesh - hence this visit will be unprecedented.
According to sources, from now on, India plans to hold Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Lecture in Delhi every year to pay homage to the memory of Bangabandhu on his birth centenary.
The Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), an affiliate of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, which conducts research on foreign policy and regularly invites many guests from home and abroad to speak, will host the regular lecture, the sources added.
Sources also said, since India had given diplomatic recognition to Bangladesh as an independent and sovereign state on December 6 during the war in 1971, India has also decided to observe the 'Friendship Day' on the same day to commemorate the date.
Venkaiah Naidu, the head of the ICWA and vice-president of India, will remain present during the speech at the ICWA's Sapru House auditorium in Delhi.
Moreover, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, a former King of Bhutan is also supposed to take part in the Golden Jubilee of the Independence of Bangladesh’.
It should be mentioned that Bhutan is the first country that had diplomatically recognized Bangladesh immediately after the War of Liberation was launched.
Bangladesh achieved its independence through a nine-month-long War of Liberation from March to December in 1971. Neighbouring India had played a vital role in the Independence of Bangladesh in many ways.
