Toespraak van burgemeester Van Zanen bij het 55^e jubileum van de onafhankelijkheid van Bangladesh op 31 maart 2026

 

Distinguished guests,

Chargé d’Affaires Towhid,

 

It is an honour and a pleasure to be here with you, on this special day.

Fifty-five years ago, on the 26th of March 1971, Bangladesh declared its independence.

That call for freedom was not answered immediately.

The birth of your state required fierce struggles and great sacrifices.

Today, we reflect also on that journey, with a mixture of melancholy and gratitude.

 

The Netherlands was quick to establish diplomatic ties following the declaration of independence.

In February 1972, our country was one of the first European states to officially recognize Bangladesh.

These were the first signs of a robust and still thriving partnership.

It is no wonder, for our interests are closely intertwined and our countries have much in common.

 

One of the most famous Dutch poems was written by Hendrik Marsman.

In his poem, Memory of Holland, he writes, and I quote:

 

“Thinking about Holland,

I see broad lazy rivers

flowing through infinite

lowland.”

 

He could have described Bangladesh in exactly those same words.

For what the Rhine, the Meuse, and the Scheldt are to the Netherlands,

the Ganges, the Brahmaputra, and the Meghna are to Bangladesh.

 

Marsman ends his poem with the following words, and I quote again:

 

“And in all the regions

the voice of the water

with its endless disasters

is feared and obeyed.”

 

This, too, is something the Netherlands and Bangladesh have in common.

It is yet another reason why our countries naturally gravitate toward one another.

Our seas and our rivers are sources of life, trade, and culture.

At the same time, they bring risks, such as flooding, salinization, and land subsidence.

Risks that threaten to increase even further under the influence of climate change.

 

It is through this shared vulnerability that our countries find one another.

The Netherlands has a centuries-old tradition of water management.

Bangladesh is taking steps in that same field with enormous resolve and innovation.

Our cooperation in delta programs, river management, and climate adaptation is extensive.

We learn from each other and create new knowledge together, as equal partners.

 

Bangladesh has managed to turn vulnerability into strength,

also in the areas of poverty reduction, education, and healthcare.

Your country has made enormous progress on all those fronts.

Furthermore, the growth of the textile and technology sectors is nothing short of impressive.

 

Bangladesh is seen worldwide as an example of development and determination.

That is, above all, a compliment to the people of Bangladesh.

A compliment to all Bengalis: in Bangladesh, here in the Netherlands, in The Hague, and in other countries.

Their perseverance, creativity, and warmth – which I also experience in our city – form the foundation of this success.

 

Fifty-five years ago, Bangladesh was born out of a fight for freedom and human dignity.

As Mayor of The Hague, the International City of Peace and Justice, I have great respect for what has been achieved since then.

Freedom, peace, and justice are never a given.

People must stand up for these values, unite, and persevere, even when the road is difficult.

 

The fact that recently the interim government, led by Nobel Prize winner Dr. Yunus, guided your country back toward democratic elections is yet another sign of resilience.

And the formation of a new government by the democratically elected Bangladesh National Party is truly encouraging.

 

I wish you a beautiful Independence Day and a prosperous future.

Let our countries continue to join forces.

Shoulder to shoulder in our struggle against the water.

Shoulder to shoulder in our pursuit of freedom, peace, and justice for everyone.

 

Thank you.