Alexander Khozin, Russian ambassador to Bangladesh, in a message on the occasion of Independence Day, which will be observed on March 26, has issued the following congratulatory message:

I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the friendly people of Bangladesh on the 55th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. This day marks the beginning of a key stage in the country’s history.

For Bangladeshi people, the way to sovereignty was thorny. Britain’s colonial policy, based on the principle of “divide and rule,” aggravated tensions on the Indian subcontinent, which subsequently triggered the liberation struggle in the territory of today’s Bangladesh.

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.

As a sovereign state Bangladesh has achieved remarkable results. The country has established large-scale industrial production and became a world leader in textiles. It achieved impressive growth rates that remained significantly above the world’s average even during global crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Russian ambassador to Bangladesh, Alexander Khozin with Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman

Bangladesh is rightfully proud of its natural resources, including the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest on Earth and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The country strives to introduce the world to its culture and traditions, such as the unique rickshaw painting technique, recognized as UNESCO intangible cultural heritage. As a result, more and more people from around the world demonstrate interest in Bangladeshi culture.

Internationally, Bangladesh has achieved recognition as a voice of the Global South nations and a responsible member of the international community, which is actively promoting the Sustainable Development Goals. Bangladesh is considered a leader in providing troops and police contingents to UN peacekeeping operations. Dhaka has already deployed over 200,000 peacekeepers, thus demonstrating its commitment to international peace and security.

The Soviet Union was one of the first to recognize 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 the port of Chittagong. 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.

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.

Once again, I congratulate my Bangladeshi friends on Independence Day. I sincerely wish you success and prosperity!

Please follow Blitz on Google News Channel

© Blitz