KUWAIT CITY, Nov 27: The Embassy of Bangladesh in Kuwait hosted a reception on 26 November to celebrate the 55th Armed Forces Day of Bangladesh. The reception was organized at the Al Taj Ballroom of Hotel Millennium in Kuwait City. The event, was graced by the Guest of Honour, Major General Feras Adel Al-Shaheen, the Assistant Chief of Staff for Administration and Manpower of the Kuwait Armed Forces. The reception was attended by a large number of Ambassadors of different countries, members of the diplomatic corps, civil societies of Kuwait, Defence Attaches resident in Kuwait, officers of Bangladesh Military Contingent in Kuwait and members of Bangladesh Community.

In his welcome address, Ambassador of Bangladesh to Kuwait Major General Syed Tareq Hussain paid solemn tribute to the heroic freedom fighters and martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War. He also paid homage to the students and citizens who sacrificed their lives during the July - August 2024 Movement. He highlighted the historic roots and evolution of the Bangladesh Armed Forces, noting their role in safeguarding national sovereignty, contributing to national development, and upholding Bangladesh’s global reputation as a leading participant in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

The Ambassador reaffirmed the deep and historic ties between Bangladesh and Kuwait, acknowledging Kuwait as the first Gulf country to recognise Bangladesh in 1973. He praised the steady growth of bilateral relations under the leadership of both nations. He expressed profound gratitude to the leadership of the State of Kuwait for hosting nearly 290,000 Bangladeshi nationals, including members of the Bangladesh Military Contingents stationed in Kuwait since 1991. He underscored that defence cooperation remains a cornerstone of this partnership and thanked the Kuwait Armed Forces for their continued support.

Brigadier General Rakib, the Defence Attaché, in his remarks, reflected on the historical significance of Armed Forces Day, recounting how the coordinated operations of the newly formed Army, Navy and Air Force beginning on 21 November 1971 accelerated the march toward Bangladesh’s independence. He paid tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War and reaffirmed the Armed Forces’ commitment to protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bangladesh.

He also emphasized the strong defence cooperation between Bangladesh and Kuwait, noting the technical and professional support provided by the 11 Bangladesh Military Contingents currently serving in Kuwait. He highlighted recent high-level exchanges between the armed forces of both countries and conveyed appreciation to the Chief of Staff of the Kuwait Armed Forces for his continued cooperation.

The event concluded with expressions of gratitude to all dignitaries, guests and members of the Bangladeshi community for joining the celebration, and a reaffirmation of the enduring friendship between Bangladesh and Kuwait.

Long live the friendship between Bangladesh and Kuwait.