Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma has said the important role that the youth have to play as the custodians of the future of India-Bangladesh relations.

He made the remark while addressing an event on Friday, marking the 53rd anniversary of “Maitri Diwas,” the day India recognised Bangladesh as an independent and sovereign nation in 1971, ten days before Bangladesh achieved its liberation.

The Indian High Commission organised the programme at the Indian Cultural Centre in Dhaka.

In his speech, Pranay Verma described the occasion as a milestone and an everlasting source of inspiration guiding the India-Bangladesh relationship. The envoy said both countries had deep stakes in each other’s progress and prosperity, as he described people as the cornerstone of this relationship.

Verma hoped to further reinforce the existing interdependencies between the two countries through more robust linkages in connectivity, culture, and commerce.

Students and youth of Bangladesh, heads of some foreign missions in the country, freedom fighters, members of civil society, and eminent personalities from the fields of art and culture joined the programme among others.

The event included a lively cultural function. Many young and eminent artistes offered soulful performances in traditional, folk, and contemporary music, enchanting the audience and infusing evening with youthful energy.