DHAKA, March 30, 2022 (BSS) - State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam today urged the civil society of both Bangladesh and India to play its due role in showcasing the Dhaka-New Delhi tie as "Role Model" for neighborhood diplomacy. 

Think tanks, academicians and social scientists should try to counter the propaganda and fabricated motivated publicity especially in the social media platforms through constructive write-ups and articles, he said.
 
He made his remarks as Chief Guest at a seminar titled "Bangladesh-India relations: Confluence of Ideologies and Evolving Perspectives" organized by Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS). 

The BIISS Chairman Ambassador Kazi Imtiaz Hossain chaired the session, while Director General Major General Mohammad Maksudur Rahman, Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) director Arvind Gupta, Senior Fellow Sreeradha Datta, Bangladesh Foundation for Regional Studies (BFRS) Chairman A. S. M. Shamsul Arefin and BIISS Research Director Dr. Mahfuz Kabir spoke in the seminar.

Alam said, over the years, the mutual respect for independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and strong political goodwill of Bangladesh and India contributed substantially blossom this friendship. 

He said while Bangladesh and India are celebrating 50th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties, the relationship has showcased the breadth and depth of this very unique relationship which has not only been forged in blood but has also been tested at times in the last 50 years. 

The State Minister expressed satisfaction on the joint celebrations of yearlong programmes like observing Maitri Dibosh (Friendship Day) in the 20 cities across the globe, on 6 December 2021, arranging Bangabandhu-Bapu Digital Exhibition, unveiling postage stamps, exchange of visit of war veterans.
 
Earlier, at the State Guest House Padma in the afternoon, Alam met with a high level delegation of the reputed New Delhi based institution Vivekananda International Foundation which is famous for quality research and in-depth studies. 

While expressing satisfaction on the excellent bilateral relations and exchange of high level visits, he emphasized on exchange of thoughts, joint publications among the reputed think tanks between the two countries.