John Kerry says he supported Bangladesh’s independence in 1971 as US government opposed

Former US Senator Edward Kennedy is widely known for supporting Bangladesh’s independence struggle in 1971 against his government that sided with Pakistan.

Now John Kerry, speaking at the EMK Centre named after Edward Kennedy on Monday in Dhaka, said he had also supported Bangladesh at the time with Ted Kennedy.

The secretary of state on his maiden visit here spoke before a select group of audience made up of politicians, former diplomats, members of the civil society, youths, and journalists.

He remembered his relations with Ted Kennedy, one of the longest serving US senators.

The former Massachusetts senator highlighted the current comprehensive partnership between the US and Bangladesh, and said he knew "there have been some who have felt a little tension regarding this relationship, and that came from 1971".

He said this “visit is very personal to me”.

Kerry, who ran for US president in 2004 as the Democratic Party’s nominee, said Ted Kennedy holds a “very special place” in the history of Bangladesh and the reason for that is he was “very much visionary and clear about the support of an independent Bangladesh in 1971”.

Kerry said at that time he was young and had just come back from the Vietnam War and also supported Bangladesh’s independence with Ted.

“We all supported and all of Massachusetts supported Bangladesh,” he said.

The top man in the US State Department highlighted the current US-Bangladesh relations and said the two countries are partners on all fronts including President Obama’s all-signatory development initiatives – healthcare, food security and climate change.

Later at the embassy, he also remembered Ted Kennedy‘s visit to Dhaka in 1971 and a year later.

“We believed in you and looked at the journey you are on. You are making amazing things happen, and even better things are yet to come,” he said at the US embassy.

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

A foreign ministry official told bdnews24.com that during his meetings in the day, Kerry also remembered 1971 and said US gave recognition to Bangladesh in 1972 soon after independence and has continued its development cooperation since.

Earlier, on his arrival, he became the first US secretary of state to visit Bangabandhu Memorial Museum.

Kerry in the visitor’s book wrote the tragedy was an end of a “brilliant and courageous” leader of the people of Bangladesh.

“The United States is proud to be a friend and strong fellow traveller in the fulfilment of his vision. We look forward for growing and working together for peace and prosperity,” he wrote.