China, the United States, and Russia have congratulated the people of Bangladesh on the occasion of Independence Day being celebrated today.
On the occasion, Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent a message to President Mohammed Shahabuddin.
In his message, Xi said China and Bangladesh are good neighbours, good friends and good partners. The two countries, he said, have always treated each other with mutual respect and equality, cooperating for mutual benefits, and setting a model for state-to-state relations, according to the Chinese embassy in Dhaka.
Xi said he attaches great importance to the development of China-Bangladesh relations and is ready to work with President Shahabuddin to deepen political mutual trust, carry forward the traditional friendship, advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and exchanges across various fields, and promote the continued development of the China-Bangladesh comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.
Today, Chinese Premier Li Qiang sent a congratulatory message to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also extended his congratulations to his Bangladeshi counterpart, Khalilur Rahman, on the anniversary.
In a statement today, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said this commemoration arrives as Bangladesh begins a new chapter in its history, following recent elections.
“The United States values our longstanding partnership with Bangladesh, anchored in a shared vision for a free, open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. We look forward to strengthening our economic and security partnership for the benefit of both of our people,” he said in the statement.
He said as Bangladesh celebrates this momentous occasion, the United States remains committed to deepening the relationship with Bangladesh and sends its warmest regards.
In a message, Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander G Khozin said the 55th anniversary of independence marks the beginning of a key stage in the country's history.
He said the declaration of independence on March 26, 1971 united Bangladeshi people with a common goal and marked the beginning of a powerful national movement for the creation of a sovereign state.
“This struggle was based upon deep respect and love of the Bangladeshis for their language and culture, as well as their desire to determine their own destiny,” he added.
As a sovereign state, Bangladesh has achieved remarkable results with the establishment of large-scale industrial production and impressive growth. Internationally, Bangladesh has achieved recognition as a voice of the Global South nations and a responsible member of the international community, Khozin said.
He said the Soviet Union was one of the first countries to recognise Bangladesh, on January 25, 1972. “Since then, friendly relations have been established between our countries.”
Soviet specialists assisted the Bangladeshi people in economic recovery, and sailors conducted a mine-clearing operation in Chittagong Port.
“We appreciate that, more than 50 years later, Bangladeshis remember the contribution of the Soviet Union to their country's development with warmth and gratitude,” he said.
“Today, Russia is open to joint projects and mutually beneficial bilateral initiatives. We hope that cooperation with the new government of Bangladesh will yield the best results for the benefit of our countries and peoples,” he added.