America cares for Bangladesh, says Nisha Desai Biswal

The US-Bangladesh relations have been growing like the banyan tree Senator Edward Kennedy planted as a symbol of “friendship” at Dhaka University in 1972 soon after independence, Washington’s point person for South Asia Nisha Desai Biswal has said.

The US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs attended the Independence Day reception at the Bangladesh embassy in Washington on Thursday evening.

US Ambassador in Dhaka Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat, who is in Washington at present, also attended the celebration.

Biswal said the banyan tree known as ‘Kennedy Tree’ has grown “large and strong, its roots run deep, its trunk stands broad, and its branches reach high”.

“It is larger and stronger than ever, and it is still growing— just like the friendship between our two peoples,” she said.

Edward Kennedy was one of the longest serving senators in the US and supported Bangladesh in 1971 against his government that sided with Pakistan.

He stood up alone on the floor of the Senate to demand freedom for the Bangladeshi people.

After independence, he was the first US leader to visit Bangladesh in February 1972, and the US recognised the new nation two months later.

He addressed thousands of jubilant students at Dhaka University on Feb 14, 1972 where he said, “I have come here to say that America cares”.

Referring to that speech, Biswal said the message remained the same: “America cares”.

She highlighted US-Bangladesh partnership in almost every sector including counter-terrorism and ensuring regional and global security.

She hoped that Bangladesh’s people and political leaderships would demonstrate “the foresight and leadership to chart a path toward an inclusive democracy based on peaceful expression”.

Bangladesh embassy in Washington has celebrated the Independence Day in a befitting manner.

Ambassador Mohammad Ziauddin hoisted the national flag on the Embassy premises in the morning and read out the messages of the President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, and State Minister.

A special prayer was also offered seeking eternal peace for those who had made supreme sacrifices to achieve the country’s independence in 1971.

In the evening reception, apart from US officials, foreign diplomats, several former US ambassadors to Bangladesh, State Department officials and high military officials attended.

Representatives of the civil society, senior journalists, artists, Awami League leaders of the US chapter and several members of the of Bangladesh Diaspora also turned up to the function held at the Chancery’s Bangabandhu auditorium.

Ambassador Ziauddin said Bangladesh and the US were enjoying “the best of relations”.

“It is founded on over four decades of friendship, common values, democracy, development cooperation and mutual respect”.

The ambassador said Bangladesh participates in President Barack Obama’s four initiatives that include health, food security and climate change and that the present government was “firmly committed to working closely with the US”.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Permanent Mission in New York also celebrated the National Day. 

The UN Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson was present as a special guest at the function that began with the cutting of a cake.

Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Abdul Momen welcomed the guests.