The relationship between Bangladesh and India is not confined to any specific regime, as the bonding has deepened into people-to-people connectivity over the last five decades based on shared sacrifices, experts from New Delhi and Dhaka shared this observation, emphasising the importance of regional harmony.

On the eve of the Maitri Diwas (Friendship Day), experts, including valiant freedom fighters, also urged the young generation to go through glorious moments of countries independence achieved through shared sacrifices.

The neighbouiring countries commemorate 6 December as Maitri Diwas, marking India’s recognition of Bangladesh on this day during the War of Liberation in 1971.

Ten days before Bangladesh achieved victory in the war, India recognised Bangladesh on 6 December 1971. India was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic ties with Bangladesh.

Jawhar Sircar, former lawmaker of India’s Rajya Sabha, said that Indian soldiers worked together with freedom fighters to liberate Bangladesh through shared supreme sacrifices.

“Maitri Diwas will go through its first test as there are visible strains in Indo-Bangla relationship. The hard fact is that history cannot be wiped away in anger. Despite public anger towards many of the ousted Awami League government, which is quite justified, people cannot also forget the role of those who killed Muktijoddhas and ordinary people,” Sircar, a former bureaucrat in the Government of India, told the Daily Sun.

The public intellectual has urged the people of Bangladesh and India to tackle religious fundamentalists in both countries to make better days for neighbourhood.

Former Bangladesh Ambassador Humayun Kabir believes that the Indo-Bangladesh relationship cannot be destabilised on any tiny issue as the bonding between the two nations achieved through shared sacrifices, a key objective of Maitri Diwas.

“The bonding of Bangladesh and India is important for regional harmony. There are conspiracies being hatched from different quarters against the relationship. We believe Maitri Diwas makes sense among us to strengthen the bonding based on mutual trust and benefits,” Kabir told the Daily Sun on Wednesday.

The seasoned diplomat believes that the Bangladesh-India relationship will be strengthened further with inclusive, participatory, and sustainable governance in the two countries. Former Vice Chairman of Muktijoddha Command Council Abul Hasem said that Maitri Diwas has significance for keeping the spirit of the liberation movement with shared sacrifices.

“India-Bangladesh relationship cannot be narrated by any political regime. It was, it is, and it will remain for a long time. The younger generation should go through the history to learn about the importance of this neighbourhood for regional harmony,” the valiant freedom fighter said.