India celebrates Maitri Diwas 2025 in Dhaka, reaffirming historic bonds with Bangladesh

The High Commission of India in Dhaka celebrated the 54th Maitri Diwas 2025 at the Indian Cultural Centre, reaffirming the historic foundation of India-Bangladesh relations even as sections of political discourse in Bangladesh voiced concerns over the current state of the bilateral partnership. Maitri Diwas marks December 6, 1971, when India recognised Bangladesh as an independent state ten days before its liberation, a gesture that remains central to the countries’ shared history.

High Commissioner Pranay Verma described the day as an indelible milestone, stressing that India seeks a stable, constructive and mutually respectful partnership with Bangladesh, grounded in equality and driven by the aspirations of people on both sides.

The celebrations featured a soulful cultural programme by Bangladeshi artistes and were attended by Muktijodhas, cultural figures, youth and dignitaries from across Bangladesh.

However, the commemorations took place against a backdrop of increasingly strained political sentiment in Bangladesh. Several political leaders and public voices have urged India to facilitate the return of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who left the country following escalating unrest earlier this year. Critics in Bangladesh claim that India, given its longstanding ties with Hasina’s Awami League government, bears responsibility for ensuring her safe return. These calls have sharpened political debates and contributed to a perception of cooling ties, particularly among groups that believe India should play a more active role in stabilising Bangladesh’s internal political landscape. New Delhi has maintained that Bangladesh’s political developments are its internal matter, but the discourse has nonetheless added friction to a relationship otherwise marked by decades of close cooperation.

Efforts to reinforce people-to-people links remained a central theme of India’s outreach. On December 1, the High Commission, in partnership with the ITEC Alumni Association of Bangladesh, hosted a reception for Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Day (ITEC Day 2025), attended by nearly 150 Bangladeshi alumni. High Commissioner Verma emphasised ITEC as a core commitment of India’s South-South cooperation, offering development-focused training programmes built around partner countries’ needs. He noted that more than 5,000 professionals from Bangladesh have undergone ITEC training and thanked alumni for serving as ambassadors of friendship and knowledge exchange.

Officials from BCSIR, BAEC, SPARSO and BLPA joined the event, where many alumni shared experiences of training in India. A musical performance by Bangladeshi artistes highlighted the cultural continuity that continues to anchor bilateral engagement.

Established in 1964, ITEC is a flagship programme under India’s Development Assistance framework. More than 12,000 training slots are offered annually to partner countries through 300-plus specialised courses in fields including agriculture, governance, IT, renewable energy, remote sensing, public health, judiciary practices and advanced computing.