Create an area of peace in South Asia – Speech at the banquet in Calcutta
6th February, 1972
Calcutta, India.
It is indeed my great privilege to be here with you this evening on behalf of the 75 million people of Bangladesh. This is a unique moment of history because it is for the first time that as the representative of free Bangladesh, I could visit the city of Calcutta to extend hands of friendship and co-operation across the border.
Personally I have the fondest memory of this great city where I spent some of the finest years of my life as a student, and if I may say so also as a student leader. Those were my formative years. I will never forget the warmth with which I have been welcomed by the citizens of Calcutta, nor will my many colleagues and fellow countrymen who were received with open arms when they came here for temporary shelter during the difficult but heroic days of our freedom struggle.
Through blood, toil and tears my people have at last achieved their independence and freedom from exploitation and colonial domination.
In our struggle for liberation the help and support given by the freedom loving people of India will always be cherished by my people with a deep sense of gratitude. While acknowledging with gratitude the sacrifices made by the people and the blood shed by the brave armed forces of India, I wish also to pay tribute to your statesmanship and vision. Madam Prime Minister, during this difficult period, by mobilising the people of India irrespective of caste, creed and colour and the world public opinion for our cause you gave the liberation struggle of Bangladesh an irresistible momentum which swept away from our soil the forces of evil which sought to engulf Bangladesh. The friendship between India and Bangladesh will always be deep and enduring not only because of the memory of common sacrifice for democratic freedom but also because our two neighboring countries have everything to gain by pursuing a policy of mutual cooperation based on good neighborliness, non-interference in respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity of each other. Besides, geography also dictates that our two countries should cooperate in all possible fields and particularly in the economic field in the interests of our two peoples. Geography also offers a unique opportunity for cooperation between our two countries in the fields of construction of barrages, flood control and taming the mighty rivers of Brahmaputra and Ganges.
In Bangladesh, an era of exploitation and injustice has come to an end due to the struggle of my valiant people and the active support given by the Government and great people of India under your magnificent leadership. A new era is now to begin in Bangladesh-an era of reconstruction, an era of economic development and cultural freedom and an era to uphold the democratic rights of my people. I have no doubt in my mind that India—our next-door neighbor will proudly march on as the largest democracy of the world under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi. We on our part are striving to advance the common ideals of nationalism, democracy, secularism and socialism at home and non-alignment in international relations.
It is my earnest hope that there will at last be peace and stability in the Sub-continent. Let there be an end, once for all, to the sterile policy of confrontation between neighbors. Let us not fritter away our national resources, but use them to lift the standard of living of our people. As for us we will not be found wanting to co-operate with all concerned for creating an area of peace in South Asia where we could live side by side as good neighbors and pursue constructive policies for the benefit of our peoples. History will not forgive us if we fail in this challenging task. In a world torn by distrust and friction, achievement of peace and stability in this region can be a model for others. I have no doubt in my mind that together we will make a valuable contribution to the promotion of world peace.
I now request you to join me in drinking a toast in honour of the President of India, the Prime Minister of India and also to the progress and prosperity of the great freedom loving people of India.
Reference:
Bangabandhu Speaks, p 30-32, Published by the External Publicity Division Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Bangladesh