U Ne Win, President of the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma (Myanmar), arrived in Dhaka on 26 April 1974 for a four-day official visit. At the airport, he was received by Bangladesh President Mr. Muhammadullah and Prime Minister Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

On 26 April, President Ne Win went to Savar, where he laid a floral wreath at the National Memorial for Martyrs. He paid a courtesy call on the President of Bangladesh on that day. They discussed various issues of mutual interest and urged for strengthening the existing cooperation between the two countries.

The same day, President Mr. Muhammadullah hosted a banquet in honour of the Burmese President at Bangabhaban. In his banquet speech, the Bangladesh President said that President Ne Win was not only a leader of the great people of Burma, but was widely respected as a great Asian statesman. Therefore, as he said, Ne Win’s first visit to Bangladesh was a historic one as well as a symbol of the close bonds of friendship and age-old ties that bound the peoples of the two neighbours. In response, the Burmese President said that Burma and Bangladesh were close neighbours linked together by geography, history and culture. In Burma, they were following with great interest the progress Bangladesh was making.  

President Ne Win met Bangabandhu a number of times. All their discussions were held in a very cordial and friendly atmosphere. At the official meeting, held on 27 April, Bangabandhu expressed deep gratitude to the Burmese President for providing shelter to thousands of Bangalee refugees during our liberation struggle and also for prompt recognition accorded to Bangladesh. The Burmese leader stated that he had brought with him a message of goodwill and friendship from his government and people for the government and people of Bangladesh.

Bangabandhu briefed Mr. Ne Win about the non-aligned and independent foreign policy pursued by his government which was best suited to safeguard the national interests of Bangladesh by avoiding great power rivalries and military blocs. He explained the importance that Bangladesh attached to the development of close friendly relations with the neighbouring countries in the South Asian sub-continent and South East Asia. In this context, Bangabandhu stated that as a bridge between the sub-continent and South East Asia, Bangladesh would continue to play its rightful role in both these regions to promote the cause of peace, progress and stability.

Bangabandhu explained the forward looking and constructive policy consistently pursued by Bangladesh for normalisation of relations in the sub-continent in the interest of durable peace so that all the three countries could pay full attention to their common objective of achieving sustained economic development and social justice. President Ne Win lauded the statesman-like approach of Bangabandhu towards sub-continental matters, and welcomed the steps taken by the three countries in facilitating the process of normalisation and reconciliation.

Both the leaders expressed their concern at the recent developments in the Indian Ocean, and reiterated their firm support for keeping the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace, free from big power rivalries. While reviewing the Indo-China situation, they expressed hope that a lasting peace would be achieved in Cambodia and Vietnam. They also underlined the desirability of scrupulous implementation of the Paris Agreement that was signed in January 1973 on ending the war and restoring peace in Vietnam. They welcomed the formation of the Provisional Government of National Union in Laos.

Bangabandhu expressed his country’s firm support for the just cause of the Arabs to regain their lost territories and the legitimate rights of Palestinians. They welcomed the recent developments which brought about disengagement of troops and reduction of tensions in West Asia and expressed the hope that a durable peace would soon be achieved in that region.

The two leaders noted their deep concern at the acute difficulties and hardships being faced by most of the developing countries as a result of the unprecedented rise in the price of essential imports. Welcoming the convening of the Special Session of the UN General Assembly on 'raw materials and development', they expressed the hope that a new spirit of international cooperation would usher in a just international economic order to enable the developing countries achieve their legitimate aspirations for economic growth.

They expressed satisfaction at the excellent relations existing between their two countries and agreed to take effective steps to expand the areas of cooperation for mutual benefit. They also expressed their confidence that two countries’ border would always remain a border of peace and goodwill reflecting the everlasting friendship of the two peoples.

On 27 April, Bangabandhu hosted a dinner in honour of President Ne Win. At the dinner, Bangabandhu said, "Your visit to our country is of special importance to us. Your visit is the first visit of a Head of State from Asia. We are also particularly happy to note that so soon after assumption of office, under your new constitution; you could make time to pay a visit to our country despite your heavy preoccupation at home. We are moved by this friendly gesture from you and we warmly welcome you among us as a true friend of Bangladesh. We congratulate you on the adoption of your new constitution and express our confidence that it will contribute towards the realisation of the aspirations of the peoples of Burma under your dynamic leadership.”

Bangabandhu said that history and geography had closely interwoven the destinies of the two peoples and their friendship had stood the test of time through many generations. The two people had always stood by each other and shared their joys and sorrows together. He said that during the liberation war of Bangladesh, thousands of Bangalee refugees, driven from their hearth and home, took shelter in Burma. In Burma, they received food and shelter, sympathy and consolation when millions of their countrymen lost their lives in Bangladesh in the grim fight for independence. He noted that when Bangladesh became independent, Burma once again had showed sincere goodwill to promptly recognising Bangladesh's sovereignty and assuring its people of Burma’s friendly understanding and cooperation.

Bangabandhu said, "One of the basic tenets of our foreign policy is to deepen and strengthen the friendly ties existing between our two countries and peoples. This is also in consonance with our broad policy objective of forging close friendly relations with all our neighbours in the interest of promoting the cause of peace and progress in our region."

Defining Bangladesh as a bridge between the regions of South East Asia and South Asian sub-continent, Bangabandhu said that although Bangladesh was a part of the sub-continent, but its natural ties with the neighbouring countries in South East Asia remained neglected before independence. However, he said his country had been pursuing a policy of forging close cooperation and understanding with the countries of South East Asia and attached great importance to the development of relations with its next-door neighbour Burma.

On sub-continental issues, Bangabandhu said, “We have been consistently pursuing a forward-looking and constructive policy. Our stand at the recent tripartite talks in New Delhi shows our deep commitment to the process of normalisation and reconciliation as a step towards the achievement of durable peace in the sub-continent. We have always believed that, without a firm basis for mutual trust and understanding among the countries in the sub-continent, our common struggle for attaining a better life for our peoples cannot succeed. It remains our sincere hope that the cause of peace, progress and reconciliation will be further strengthened in the region in the coming months by all concerned.”

Bangabandhu said that the visit had made the opportunity to exchange views on a wide range of matters of mutual interest. They found similarities of approaches between the two governments on major issues. In this context, Bangabandhu also said that Bangladesh, like Burma, pursued a non-aligned and independent foreign policy.

Mentioning both countries’ engagement in a determined fight against poverty, hunger, disease and unemployment, Bangabandhu stressed the importance of ensuring a decent living standard for their millions of people. He said, "The world-wide inflation and rising prices of our imports have made further claims on our scarce resources, which we need for the urgent task of economic development. We should strive together to establish a just international economic order in which the growing and pressing problems of developing countries may be satisfactorily resolved."

In conclusion, Bangabandhu expressed his deep satisfaction for the excellent relations existing between the two countries and hoped that the relations would steadily expand in future for mutual benefits of their peoples.

At that dinner, the Burmese President said that he had come to Bangladesh on a mission of friendship and goodwill and was delighted to offer friendly greetings and sincere good wishes of the Government and people of Burma to the Government and people of Bangladesh. He noted that Bangladesh and Burma were close neighbours geographically and the people of these two countries had been in close contact for centuries. President Ne Win said, “It is in the mutual interest of our two peoples to continue to develop good-neighbourly relations and co-operation in all areas of common interest.”

On the political development in the region, he said, "As a sincere friend and well-wisher of the parties involved, it was painful for us to watch the unhappy events which took place a few years ago on the sub-continent. We were constantly praying that reason prevail among our friends, and we now rejoice that a magnanimous settlement has been reached as a result of friendly exchanges between Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. A new era of understanding and goodwill has begun, which we are convinced will contribute to the cause of peace, stability and progress in this part of the world. We laud the leaders of the three countries, who in the face of formidable difficulties have been able to show great statesmanship.”

The Burmese President concluded by saying that his visit and discussions with the leaders of Bangladesh would certainly enhance the understanding and closer co-operation between the peoples of the two countries.

On 28 April, President Ne Win gave a return banquet in honour of President Mr. Muhammadullah. Both of them, in their speech, highlighted two countries’ relations and the need for further strengthening of the relations for mutual benefits. President Ne Win also went for a river cruise on the Buriganga and Bangabandhu accompanied them.

This visit gave President Ne Win the opportunity in building his unwavering trust and confidence on the patriotism, political wisdom and philosophy of Bangabandhu. It had also strengthened and widened the bonds of friendship and mutual understanding between the two countries.

On the eve of his departure on 29 April, President Ne Win said at a press conference at Dhaka airport that his visit was very fruitful. He had very open discussions with Bangabandu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on all unresolved issues.

The writer is a former Ambassador and Secretary