DHAKA, Feb 01 (Asia Free Press): Bangladesh and Australia have pledged to strengthen bonds of friendship on the completion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two friendly countries, local media reported.
Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison have issued separate goodwill messages, highlighting the existing strong bonds of friendship and for directions for the relationship between
the two friendly countries, reported BSS.
Australian High Commission in Bangladesh hosted a reception on Monday night marking the occasion at the Hotel Purbani, which was the inaugural location of Australia’s diplomatic mission in 1972.
During the reception, Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Md Shahriar Alam, and Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Jeremy Bruer highlighted the respective government’s commitment to boost bilateral engagement between the two countries further.
They reiterated the two countries cooperation and commitments on COVID-19 recovery, trade and investment, education, technology and innovation and meaningful partnership to face regional and global challenges and issues such as climate change, forced displacement and regional security.
State Minister Alam expressed gratitude for Australia’s bipartisan support for the cause of Bangladesh’s independence in 1971.
He paid deep respect to the Dutch-Australian Mr William A S Ouderland, who valiantly fought beside freedom fighters in Bangladesh’s war of independence and was the lone foreign national decorated with gallantry award Bir Protik.
The state minister also recalled the contributions of Australians like Dr Geofrey Davis, Herbert Feith and Anthony Clifton to the War of Liberation in 1971.
The state minister thanked Australia for being the first country in the developed world to recognize Bangladesh as a sovereign and independent state on Jan 31 1972.
In his turn, Australian High Commissioner Jeremy Bruer stated that Australia also looks forward to strengthening cooperation with Bangladesh for shared recovery from the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as expanding business relationship between the two countries.
” We’re very proud that Australia was one of the first countries in the world to recognize Bangladesh in January 1972,” the Australian envoy said while talking about the deepening relations between the two countries.
Lastly, High Commissioner Bruer and State Minister Alam unveiled a plaque indicating the inaugural location of Australia’s diplomatic mission in 1972 at the Purbani Hotel.
