50th Anniversary of India and Bangladesh Friendship

Celebrating 50 Years of Shared Bonds

In 2021, India and Bangladesh proudly commemorated 50 years of their close fraternal friendship, a bond rooted in history, respect, and shared sacrifice. To mark this golden milestone, the Department of Posts, India issued a special India-Bangladesh Friendship stamp, symbolizing the timeless relationship between the two neighboring nations.

50 Years of Strong Ties

India and Bangladesh not only share one of the world’s longest land boundaries but are also bound by language, culture, heritage, and people-to-people ties. Over the past five decades, this relationship has flourished into a dynamic partnership covering:

• Development cooperation
• Trade and commerce
• Health and energy collaboration
• Multimodal connectivity
• Joint management of shared resources
• Defence and security
• Youth engagement and cultural exchanges

This era, described as “Shonali Adhyay” (Golden Chapter), reflects the vision and leadership of Bangladesh’s Prime Minister, H.E. Sheikh Hasina, and the deep-rooted trust between the two nations.

Honoring Shared Sacrifices

The year 2021 also marked two other historic anniversaries:

• Mujib Borsho – the centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Father of the Nation of Bangladesh, who led his people to freedom and a progressive, secular society.
• 50th Anniversary of the 1971 Liberation War – when India stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the Muktijoddhas (freedom fighters), extending political, diplomatic, and military support.

India was the first country to recognize independent Bangladesh, hosting over 10 lakh refugees and sacrificing the lives of thousands of Indian soldiers for its liberation. The stamp pays homage to this shared history of courage and sacrifice.

The National War Memorial, India

One half of the India-Bangladesh Friendship stamp depicts the National War Memorial in New Delhi, dedicated to soldiers of the Indian Armed Forces.

• Spread across 40 acres, the memorial is designed in a ‘Chakravyuh’ formation, encircling an eternal flame at its central obelisk.
• The four concentric circles symbolize the values of the Indian Armed Forces: immortality, bravery, sacrifice, and protection.
• The walls bear the names of thousands of martyrs, including those who fought in the 1971 Liberation War.

This memorial stands as a pilgrimage site of patriotism and unity, visited by millions of Indians every year.

The Jatiyo Smriti Soudho, Bangladesh

The other half of the stamp features the Jatiyo Smriti Soudho (National Martyrs’ Memorial) at Savar, near Dhaka.

• Its pointed 150-foot spire rises through seven triangular structures, symbolizing the key stages of Bangladesh’s freedom struggle—from the Language Movement of 1952 to the victory of 1971.
• The monument honors the countless patriots who laid down their lives in the fight against oppression.
• The complex includes an artificial lake, twin bridges, a reflecting pool, and ten preserved mass graves of martyrs, offering solemn tribute to the nation’s heroes.

This memorial embodies the resilience, unity, and sacrifice of the Bangladeshi people.

A Symbol of Eternal Friendship

Written in the indelible ink of history, the story of India-Bangladesh friendship has only deepened over the last five decades. The India-Bangladesh Friendship stamp beautifully brings together two iconic memorials, representing not just monuments, but the shared sacrifices, values, and dreams of two nations bound by eternal ties.

For philatelists and history enthusiasts alike, this commemorative stamp is more than a collector’s piece—it is a tribute to solidarity, sacrifice, and an enduring partnership.