The official logo of Mujib Year which will run until March 17, 2021 to pay tribute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. — Photo courtesy of the embassy

On the occasion of Independence and National Day of Bangladesh, Ambassador of Bangladesh to Việt Nam Samina Naz sends a message to readers of Việt Nam News.

Today, Bangladesh celebrates its Independence and National Day. On this happy occasion, I extend my warmest felicitations and greetings to the friendly people of Việt Nam and Bangladeshis living in Việt Nam.

At the moment, Việt Nam, Bangladesh and indeed the world are going through a non-traditional threat, COVID-19. I appreciate the effective stringent efforts being taken by the Vietnamese Government to tackle the pandemic. The government of Bangladesh is taking all necessary measures to prevent this health risk. Let us hope and pray that we all be safe and comply with all instructions of the governments against this pandemic.

When we talk about Bangladesh and its independence, the name of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who proclaimed the country’s independence on this day in 1971 and led the nation towards freedom during the war and all pre-war movements and struggles – stands tall and synonymous with the name of Bangladesh.

This year, March 17 was the birth centenary of the Great Leader of Bangladesh. On this occasion, Bangladesh is celebrating Mujib Year from March 17, 2020, to March 17, 2021.

To commemorate and pay tribute to our Father of the Nation, the Embassy of Bangladesh in Việt Nam has undertaken many programme and initiatives. Among which, the Embassy requested the Government of Việt Nam extend assistance and approval to translate Bangabandhu's historic March 7, 1971 speech which ignited the nation to start the War of Freedom and has been endorsed by the United Nations as world documentary heritage, into the Vietnamese language. This would help create a better understanding of our struggle which is so similar to Việt Nam's and can be a source of learning and research in Việt Nam.

We also want to publish a commemorative postal stamp on Bangladesh’s Father of the Nation and create a mural on Bangabandhu and Bangladesh on a main street-side wall in Hà Nội.

Ambassador of Bangladesh to Việt Nam Samina Naz and Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina. — Photo courtesy of the embassy

We would like to promote and share the thoughts and principles of our Great Leader to the world, especially, with Việt Nam, as our Leader was a profound supporter of the struggle of the Vietnamese people and always extended solidarity.

Bangladesh attaches much importance to its relations with Việt Nam. Bangladesh’s Father of the Nation 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 peoples are, therefore, not only bonded by shared values and culture but also by a deep commitment to carry forward the beacon of humanity.

Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, daughter of our Great Leader Bangabandhu, Bangladesh has been progressing for last 11 years to emerge as a middle-income country by 2021 and a developed nation by 2041. Bangladesh’s present GDP growth rate stands at 8.15 per cent with per capita income more than US$1,900.

As a role model of the United Nations for successful implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Bangladesh is now committed to the Sustainable Development Goals. We have attained notable developments in the ready-made apparel sector, pharmaceuticals, ceramics and the shipbuilding industry. 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, as the industry now accounts for 32.48 per cent of GDP.

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) in a recent report predicted that Bangladesh will be the world’s 29th biggest economy by 2030 and the 23rd economy by 2050 in terms of GDP at purchasing power parity terms.

Bangladesh has enjoyed tremendous development in women's empowerment as the United Nations endorses. We would be happy to share our experience with Việt Nam.

The state visit of late President Trần Đại Quang in March 2018 to Bangladesh witnessed the peak of enhanced bilateral relations between two countries.

As Bangladesh Ambassador, I consider myself a promoter of economic diplomacy between Bangladesh and Việt Nam and to this aim, I have extensively worked in and visited all important cities of Việt Nam, met and participated in seminars and discussions with the Việt Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Hải Phòng, Đà Nẵng, HCM City and Hà Nội in the last three years. I urge the business sector of Việt Nam to invest in Bangladesh and tap the potential for mutual benefits.

Trade between Bangladesh and Việt Nam reached close to $900 million in 2019. Both countries have the potential for trade to rise to more than $1 billion within a few years. Emphasis on exporting pharmaceutical products from Bangladesh can be given as Việt Nam needs to import medicine. Bangladesh can offer jute bags for Việt Nam's coffee exports. Educational institute co-operation is one sector where Bangladesh can offer Việt Nam its experience and development. The English language has been a barrier for Việt Nam’s growth as identified by UN agencies and international financial institutions where Bangladesh can step in to offer assistance.

Bangladesh is among the top three troop-contributing countries of United Nations peacekeeping operations with 32 years of peacekeeping experience. Bangladesh is ready to offer its support and expertise to Việt Nam for enhancing its capability in the UNPCO. Bangladesh has a specialised UN peacekeeping training centre that offers training for military and police personnel before deployment as UN peacekeepers. Việt Nam can take advantage of it. Bangladesh even has a track record of sending all women peacekeepers in Haiti that served from 2015 to 2017.

Bangladesh and Việt Nam are experiencing intense cultural co-operation and people-to-people contacts which are one of the valued and strong links of our relationship. The Bangladesh Embassy has participated in fairs and exhibitions in Hà Nội arranged by the Vietnamese authorities to portray and offer the strength Bangladesh has, the benefits of which the business sector of Việt Nam can avail of. These events have brought our peoples closer together.

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

Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh. Bangladesh is progressing towards emerging as a middle-income country by 2021.