Bangladesh pays tribute to war heroes

Celebrate good times: Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih (left) congratulates Bangladesh Ambassador to Indonesia Golam Mohammad during celebrations of the 41st Independence and National Day of Bangladesh in Jakarta on Monday. JP/Wendra Ajistyatama The Bangladeshi Embassy here celebrated the nation’s 41st independence day on Monday with a commemoration of its war heroes.

Bangladeshi Ambassador to Indonesia Golam Mohammad welcomed guests at the JW Marriott Hotel with a speech paying homage to the nation’s heroes.

“We commemorate the dead and honor the living,” he told his guests, which included the diplomatic community, high-ranking officials and businesspeople.

Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih was one of top-brass Indonesians who attended to honor Bangladesh’s most important day.

Before the ambassador’s welcoming speech, guests were greeted with a documentary on recent developments in Bangladesh.

Ambassador Mohammad also praised Indonesia as one of the first countries to recognize Bangladesh as an independent nation, expressing hope that their bilateral ties could reach new heights by 2012. Indonesia recognized Bangladeshi independence in February 1972.

After the declaration of Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan on March 26, 1971, Bangladeshis fought Pakistani troops. Finally, on Dec. 16, 1971, the Pakistani army surrendered to the revolutionary forces.

“Bangladesh attaches great importance on its relations with Indonesia. Both governments have maintained excellent bilateral relations based on solid foundation of common history, culture and traditions,” Mohammad said earlier.

He stressed the fact that Indonesia and Bangladesh had worked very closely together on various issues at the UN as well as other international and regional fora.

Bangladesh is the eighth most populous country and is among the most densely populated countries in the world. Its per capita income has more than doubled since 1975, and the poverty rate has fallen by 20 percent since the early 1990s.

After many years, Goldman Sachs stated that Bangladesh was among the Next Eleven countries. No other analyst had referred to Bangladesh as an emerging market country until February 2011 when Citigroup categorized the country as one of global growth generating countries. (awd)