Bhutan PM hands over message of recognition

A copy of the Bhutan message that recognised Bangladesh as a sovereign state 43 years ago has been presented to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 6 Dec 2014, 03:29 PM
Updated : 7 Dec 2014, 05:01 AM

Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, on a three-day visit to Bangladesh, handed her the historic letter during a tête-à-tête on Saturday.

Bhutan recognised Bangladesh on Dec 6 through a wireless message sent to then acting President of Bangladesh Syed Nazrul Islam, said the Foreign Ministry.

Third King of Bhutan Jigme Dorji Wangchuck had sent the message conveying Bhutan’s recognition of Bangladesh as a sovereign country while it was battling Pakistan for independence.

“On behalf of my Government and myself, I would like to convey to Your Excellency and the Government of Bangladesh that we have great pleasure in recognizing Bangladesh as a sovereign independent country,” read the letter.

“We are confident that the great and heroic struggle of the people of Bangladesh to achieve freedom from foreign domination will be crowned with success in the close future.

“My people and myself pray for the safety of your great leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and we hope that God will deliver him safely from the present peril so that he can lead your country and people in the great task of national reconstruction and progress,” according to the letter that the foreign ministry release.

On the first day of his visit, both sides signed two deals on trade expansion and the allotment of land for Bhutanese embassy in Dhaka at the Prime Minister’s Office.