Statement by Ambassador Mr. Ghanshyam Bhandari at the Event to Mark the 261st Nepali Army Day
Dhaka, 9 March 2024
Chief Guest of this evening Lieutenant General Mr. Mizanur Rahman Shameem
Excellencies, Ambassadors, High Commissioners and Heads of Mission
Senior Officials from the Government of Bangladesh
Officers from Bangladesh Armed Forces
Defense Attachés from Different Embassies
My Fellow Nepali nationals,
Friends from Media, and
Ladies and Gentlemen
Namaste, As-salamu Alaykum, Subho Sandhya, and Good Evening!
It is an honour and privilege to welcome you to this programme organized to observe the 261st Nepali Army Day.
I would like to extend my warmest greetings and sincere appreciation to you all for your gracious presence.
Excellencies, and Dear Friends,
As one of the oldest nations in the world, which has always remained independent, Nepal is known not just for its unique flag, for Mt. Everest – the highest peak in the world, and for Lumbini – the birthplace of Lord Buddha.
It is also known, [among others], as the land of Gorkhas, the warriors who epitomize courage, fearlessness, dedication, and discipline.
At the foundation of the Nepali Army lies this indomitable spirt of courage, determination, and distinction.
Over the last 261 years, our Army has served Nepal and Nepali people with this spirit and with an unwavering loyalty and devotion.
Nepali soldiers are considered to be fierce and fearless not because they hate what is in front of them, but because they love so much what is behind them.
What is behind them is: Nepal’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, and
What is behind them is : the safety, security, hopes and expectations of Nepali people.
The Nepali Army has also made significant contributions to Nepal’s socio-economic development, and rescue and recovery efforts during the natural disasters.
For the last 66 years, Nepali peacekeepers have contributed to the maintenance of peace and security under the auspices of the United Nations.
Currently, Nepal is the largest troops and police contributing country. Close to six thousand Nepali blue helmets have been serving in 12 different UN peace operations across the globe.
On this historic day, we honour and pay respect to all our soldiers- past and present- for their sacrifice and invaluable contributions in different fields.
Excellencies,
We take great pride in the enduring friendship between Nepal and Bangladesh.
Our bilateral relationship continues to grow on the backdrop of the shared ideals, spirit of good neighbourliness, and common aspirations for progress and prosperity.
The cooperation between the Nepali Army and the Bangladesh Armed Forces is a key aspect of this relationship.
The Nepali Army continues to play an important role in nurturing Nepal-Bangladesh relations. The high-level military exchanges and the exchange of training opportunities, capacity development and joint exercises have enhanced the understanding and camaraderie between our two Armies.
I take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to the Bangladesh Armed Forces for their outstanding cooperation and collaboration with the Nepali Army.
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সম্মানিত অতিথিবৃন্দ ও প্রিয় সুধীমন্ডলী।
নেপালী সেনা নেপাল এবং নেপালী জনগণের প্রতি দৃঢ় আনুগত্য এবং একনিষ্ঠতা প্রকাশকারী একটি সংগঠন।
ইহা একটি সাহস, নির্ভীকতা, উৎসর্গ এবং সংকল্পের প্রতিমূর্তি।
নেপালের ইতিহাস জুড়ে, প্রতিষ্ঠান সেনা নেপালের সার্বভৌমত্ব এবং আঞ্চলিক অখণ্ডতা রক্ষায় গুরুত্বপূর্ণ ভূমিকা পালন করেছে।
যা পারস্পরিক আস্থা, শ্রদ্ধা এবং সহযোগিতার নীতিগত দৃষ্টিভঙ্গির মাধ্যমে নেপাল-বাংলাদেশ সম্পর্ককে আরো উন্নত করেছে।
আমি আত্মবিশ্বাসী যে, এই “নেপালী সেনা দিবস” আমাদের দুই দেশের সশস্ত্র বাহিনীর মধ্যে আর শক্তিশালী বন্ধন তৈরিতে অগ্রণী ভূমিকা পালন করবে।
নেপাল-বাংলাদেশ সম্পর্ক চিরজীবী হোক!
আপনাদের সবাইকে অনেক অনেক ধন্যবাদ।
