On the momentous occasion of the Birth Centenary of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, on behalf of the Government and the people of Maldives, I wish to convey our heartfelt greetings and felicitations to the Government and the people of Bangladesh. It is an honour and privilege for me to undertake this visit to Bangladesh at the invitation of my counterpart and friend, His Excellency Md Abdul Hamid, the President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, to celebrate the Birth Centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh’s independence.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is an inspiration, a timeless icon of freedom and a charismatic leader, not only to the people of Bangladesh but to people across the world. His many sacrifices to secure the rights of Bengalis, and win independence for Bangladesh will long be remembered. The legacy and exemplary statesmanship of Bangabandhu, Friend of Bengal, will continue to inspire future generations.
On this memorable day, I congratulate the Government and People of Bangladesh for graduating from the United Nation’s Least Developed Countries (LDC) status to Developing Country status. I wish to note with appreciation, the exemplary management of the Covid-19 pandemic by the Government of the Honourable Prime Minister of the Government of Bangladesh, Her Excellency Sheikh Hasina.
This year also marks the 43rd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Maldives and Bangladesh, which have always been built on mutual trust and respect. The historical linkages between our two communities go back much further, through the ancient Maldives-Bengal Cowrie trade.
The Maldives and Bangladesh share much in common. We are both Muslim countries aspiring to achieve higher levels of socio-economic development for our citizens, and we stand on common ground in the international arena, as we advocate for addressing pressing issues of common concern, such as climate change and rising sea-levels. Our bonds remain strong, with Bangladesh being one of the main contributors to the human resource development of the Maldives through education and training. The Maldives is host to a large number of Bangladeshi migrant workers who contribute significantly to the economic development of the country.
Time and again Bangladesh has extended its hand of generosity towards us. This is reflected in Bangladesh’s actions throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, through providing the Maldives with relief assistance, evacuating Maldivians stranded in Bangladesh and Nepal, and the deployment of medical teams from the Bangladeshi Air Force to assist in the Maldives’ health response. The people of Maldives, and I are indebted to the Government and the people of Bangladesh for their continued kindness.
I wish continued peace, progress and prosperity for the people of Bangladesh and reiterate my Government’s commitment to further strengthen and consolidate the close ties between our nations. May we continue to learn from Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s vision of lasting peace and prosperity, and may his legacy long endure.
