Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday said India, being the largest country in the region, needs to play a pioneering role in building a stable and politically and economically vibrant South Asia.
"If we move forward hand in hand, the development of our people is inevitable," she said while chairing the closing ceremony of the 10-day festival in presence of her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi as the guest of honour.
President Abdul Hamid attended the concluding ceremony in the city's National Parade Square as the Chief Guest, reports UNB.
The 10-day nationwide programme started on March 17 with the theme 'Mujib Eternal', marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Golden Jubilee of the country's Independence in the Mujib Year.
Sheikh Hasina said South Asia is the most densely-populated area but there are huge resources in this region. "If we all utilise the resources, we'll be able to build it as a hunger-poverty-free region."
She urged all to make a vow to work together forgetting all differences for the welfare of the peoples in South Asia.
"At this auspicious moment of celebrating the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation and the Golden Jubilee of independence of Bangladesh, let us pledge to forget all differences and work together for the welfare of our peoples," she said
"Our foreign policy formulated by the Father of the Nation is that 'Friendship to All and Malice towards None'. We're determined to establish South Asia a developed and prosperous region," the Prime Minister said.
