Prime Minister Narendra Modi also wrote a letter to his Bangladeshi counterpart wishing her on her birthday

It was Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s birth anniversary on Sunday. On the occasion, Indian High commissioner to Bangladesh Riva Ganguly Das handed her a birthday note on the behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with rare footage of her father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's visit to India in the year 1972.

"Please accept my warm wishes and hearty congratulations on your birthday...Your (Ms. Hasina) visionary leadership has helped Bangladesh achieve immense social and economic transformation, and equally, your contributions to our bilateral relations have been extremely impressive," PM Modi's letter read.

“HC Smt. Riva Ganguly Das (@rivagdas) paid a farewell call on Hon’ble PM of #Bangladesh, H.E. Sheikh Hasina today. She handed over a letter from Hon’ble PM, H.E. Shri Narendra Modi to Bangladesh PM greeting on her birth anniversary and also presented a bouquet on his behalf,” official handle of the High Commission of India in Bangladesh tweeted.




“HC presented rare footage of #Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman 1972 visit to India. Hon’ble PM #SheikhHasina thanked outgoing HC for her contribution to strengthening #IndiaBangladesh relations and wished her the very best for her next stint as Secretary (East),” the tweet further read.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had visited India in March 1972 immediately after Bangladesh gained independence by going to war with Pakistan in 1971.

The year 2021 will be marked as the golden jubilee year of the ties between India and Bangladesh. The friendship between both sides has only become stronger over the past few years through cooperation in new and technological areas.

As part of its Neighborhood First Policy, India accords high priority to Bangladesh as a friendly neighbor and hopes to develop ties in the areas of mutual interest.

“Reiterating #Bangladesh importance in our #NeighborhoodFirst policy, HC cited progress made in #IndiaBangladesh relations under PM Modi & PM Hasina. Golden Jubilee celebrations of Liberation War and 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year also discussed,” another tweet from the HC of India in Bangladesh read.

On the same day, HC of India in Bangladesh Riva Das Ganguly made a farewell call to the Bangladeshi President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban.

“HC Smt. Riva Ganguly Das made a farewell call on Hon’ble President of Bangladesh, H.E. Abdul Hamid on 27 September at Bangabhaban. HC said India looks forward to 50th-anniversary celebrations of diplomatic relations & 50th anniversary of the Liberation War in 2021,” the official handle of HC of India in Bangladesh tweeted.



She noted that India and Bangladesh share a cordial relationship and she was fortunate to serve in Bangladesh twice and witness the country’s remarkable growth.

“HC said India attaches utmost importance to #IndiaBangladesh relationship & that India’s #ActEast policy begins with #Bangladesh. Appreciating Bangladesh's economic development, she called herself fortunate to serve here twice & witness its remarkable growth,” the tweet read.

The Indian High Commission added that the President of Bangladesh extended best wishes to her for her future endeavors.

"President, fondly recalling his visits to India, said both countries should use more opportunities for deeper cooperation and that India-Bangladesh relationship can only strengthen further. Hon'ble President wished her the best as she leaves for her next stint," a subsequent tweet read.