On the occasion of the Independence and National Day of Bangladesh, Ambassador Samina Naz sends her greetings to the friendly people of Việt Nam and Bangladeshis living in the country.

The name of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who proclaimed the country’s independence on March 26, 1971, is a synonym for the name Bangladesh and its emergence as a nation.

His daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is leading Bangladesh to progress and emerge as a middle-income country by 2021 and a developed nation by 2041. Bangladesh’s GDP growth rate in 2018 stood at 7.28 per cent with per capita income of US$1,902.

Bangladesh graduated to lower middle-income country status in April 2018 endorsed by the United Nations. Bangladesh now plans to secure higher middle-income status by 2021. As a role model for the successful implementation of the UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), it’s now committed to the Sustainable Development Goals. We have attained notable development in the areas of ready-made apparel sector, pharmaceuticals, ceramics and shipbuilding industries. The country is now the third and fifth largest producer of fish and vegetables in the world. Progress is also taking place in the industrial sector, which now accounts for 32.48 per cent of GDP.

Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PWC) in a recent report on “The World in 2050” predicted that Bangladesh would be the world’s 29th largest economy by 2030 and 23rd 2050 in terms of GDP at Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) terms.

Bangladesh attaches much importance to its relations with Việt Nam. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Việt Nam’s great leader Hồ Chí Minh both envisaged the dream of free people and dedicated their lives to realising that dream. Both the countries’ peoples are, therefore, not only bonded by shared values and culture but also by a deep commitment to carry forward the beacon of humanity.

Both Bangladesh and Việt Nam’s parliaments are headed by women. In fact, Bangladesh has had a woman leader for 10 years in a row. As being the first woman Ambassador of Bangladesh to Việt Nam, I want to do as much as possible to enhance relations between our two countries in all possible sectors including the empowerment of women. Bangladesh has done tremendous work on the development of women empowerment that the United Nations endorses and we can share our experiences to help Việt Nam.

The State visit of the late President Trần Đại Quang in March last year to Bangladesh witnessed the signing of six MOUs on co-operation in the fields of fisheries and livestock, cultural exchange programmes, machinery and manufacturing co-operation, frozen food, seafood and leather products.

These bilateral meetings have helped to enhance bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Việt Nam.

I am a promoter of economic diplomacy between Bangladesh and Việt Nam and to this aim, I have visited all important cities in Việt Nam, and participated in seminars and discussions with the Việt Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) in Hải Phòng, Đà Nẵng, HCM City and Hà Nội. I urge the business sector in Việt Nam to participate in the trade fair Bangladesh is hosting in Dhaka and Chittagong in the coming days.

Trade between Bangladesh and Việt Nam reached $1 billion in 2018. Both countries have the potential for that figure to rise to $2 billion by 2020.

Bangladesh is among the top three countries contributing troops to United Nations Peace Keeping Operations. Bangladesh is ready to offer its support and expertise to Việt Nam to enhance its capability in the UNPKO.

Bangladesh and Việt Nam enjoy intense cultural co-operation and people-to-people contacts which are part of the valued and strong links of our relationship.

The Bangladesh Embassy has participated in different fairs and exhibitions in Hà Nội arranged by Vietnamese authorities to portray and offer the positive strength Bangladesh has, a benefit of which the business sector in Việt Nam can take advantage of.

Language is one sector where we can work together by translating important literature and important documents in each other’s languages so that we better understand our history, politics, economy and culture.

In this regard, I would like to request authorities in Việt Nam to consider translating the historic March 7 Speech of the Father of the Nation of Bangladesh, which ignited the nation to start the War of Freedom and has been endorsed by the United Nations as a World Documentary Heritage.

This would help people better understand of our struggle, which is so similar to Việt Nam, and also a source of learning and research.

I wish for continued prosperity, good health and happiness of the peoples of Bangladesh and Việt Nam, and hope the friendship between the peoples and governments of Bangladesh and Việt Nam be further consolidated. — VNS