Statement by Ambassador Mr. Ghanshyam Bhandari
Delivered at the Event Held to Mark the 260th Nepali Army Day
Friday, 24 February 2023
Former Prime Minister of Nepal Hon. Jhala Nath Khanal, and
Madam Ravi Laxmee Chitrakar
Lieutenant General…., from Bangladesh Army
Secretaries of the Government of Bangladesh
Rector of Foreign Service Academy
Excellencies, Ambassadors and Heads of Mission,
Senior Officers from Bangladesh Armed Forces
Defense Attachés from Different Embassies
Senior Officials from Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh
Fellow Nepali nationals,
Friends from Media, and
Distinguished Guests
Namaste, As-salamu Alaykum,
Subho Sandhya, and Good Evening!
At the outset, I would like to welcome former Prime Minister of Nepal Hon. Mr. Jhala Nath Khanal and madam Ravi Laxmee Chitrakar to this programme. Thank you so much for honouring us with your presence this evening.
It is my immense pleasure to welcome you, distinguished guests, as we observe the 260th Nepali Army Day.
I extend my warmest greetings and sincere appreciation to you all for your gracious presence.
Excellencies, and Dear Friends,
This day marks the 260th anniversary of the historic establishment of Nepali Army:
- an institution with an unwavering loyalty and devotion towards Nepal and Nepali people
- An embodiment of courage, fearlessness, and valor, and
- An epitome of dedication, determination, and distinction.
We know, a country’s history is not just the sum total of the acts of one individual or institution. But some are called to meet a special share, by their design or by their function.
Throughout Nepal’s history, the Nepali Army has played a crucial role to safeguarding Nepal’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, building resilience against adversities and disasters, and promoting a peaceful, prosperous, and inclusive society.
With its soldiers often serving as the first responders in times of natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and landslides, the Nepali Army has made tremendous contributions to saving precious lives and recovering from the disasters.
For last 65 years, our peacekeeping troops have been contributing to the maintenance of peace and security in many conflict-ridden countries across the world.
Currently, we are the second largest troops and police-contributing country in UN peacekeeping. About 6000 Nepali Army personnel are serving at present in 13 different UN peace operations across the globe.
Excellencies,
This year, we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Bangladesh. We take great pride in our enduring friendship, nurtured by a principled outlook of mutual trust, respect, and cooperation.
Our relationship continues to be cemented by our shared ideals, spirit of good neighbourliness, and common aspirations for progress and prosperity.
The linkages between our two countries are ever-expanding including in the political, economic, cultural and people-to-people levels.
Recent positive developments in energy cooperation, trade, and connectivity linkages have opened up brighter prospects of further strengthening the ties between our countries, and consolidating the ‘organic link’ between the Himalayas and the Bay of Bengal.
The military cooperation between the Nepali Army and Bangladesh Armed Forces is a key aspect of our bilateral relationship.
The high-level military exchanges between two Armies have helped foster the mutual understanding and camaraderie between our two Armies, and strengthen our bilateral bond.
Exchange of training opportunities, capacity development and joint exercises have provided our military personnel with exposure to different training techniques and modern equipment.
I do not want to go into details of bilateral military cooperation (and repeat what Military Attaché Brig. Gen. Rana has already shared with you) but would like to take this opportunity to thank Bangladesh Armed Forces for the excellent cooperation Nepali Army has received in different fields.
To conclude, this historic anniversary is not just an occasion to take stock of their services of the Nepali Army and express gratitude to our soldiers, but also an opportunity to renew the commitment towards devotion and duty and plan better for the future.
I am confident that the Nepali Army will continue to make further strides in terms of dedication and professionalism, build stronger bonds with Bangladesh Armed Forces, and ultimately contribute to strengthening the friendly ties between Nepal and Bangladesh.
Long live Nepal-Bangladesh relations!
নেপাল-বাংলাদেশ সম্পর্ক দীর্ঘজীবী হোক !
Thank you for your attention.