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Experience of independence a basis for bilateral ties
Rep. Kim Chung-hwan of the ruling Grand National Party contributed the following article to The Korea Times on the occasion of Bangladesh’s 40th Independence Day, which falls today. — ED.
By Kim Se-jeong
I would like to congratulate the Bengali people on the Independence Day of Bangladesh.
The power of time-honored traditions in Bengali culture played an important role in making Bangladesh an independent nation.
I understand that during the days of East Pakistan, Bengali people did not have cultural and political freedom despite comprising a majority of the population.
Following the banning of the Bengali language in 1951, a resistance movement emerged from a nationalist perspective.
I believe that the war that followed the declaration of independence in 1971 and the successful guerrilla operations of the Bangladeshi resistance army known as the Mukti Bahini, which led to victory over West Pakistan in December, demonstrated the time-honored traditions and pride of Bangladesh.
In this context, I sincerely congratulate you all on the 40th anniversary of the Independence Day of Bangladesh that falls on March 26, 2011.
Though different in context, the Korean people also experienced an intense independence movement in the past as our traditions and way of life were neglected and even denigrated.
Korea which has a 5,000-year history, lost its sovereignty to Japan’s Imperialist Army in August 1910, and suffered the agonies of colonization for 36 years.
In the 1930s, the Japanese colonial rulers banned the use of the Korean language.
They even forced the Korean people to change their names to Japanese names.
This sparked cultural nationalism across the nation and led to a rise in the resistance movement.
As a result, the activities of the provisional government to liberate the nation increased in the U.S., China and other countries.
With the support of the international community, Korea gained its independence in 1945 after Japan surrendered unconditionally.
National pride and the experience of independence are the common basis on which Korea and Bangladesh can understand each other.
Korea established diplomatic ties with Bangladesh in 1973 immediately after its independence and opened the Korean Embassy in 1975.
Today, about 1,300 Koreans live in Bangladesh and about 11,000 Bengali people live in Korea.
The volume of our annual bilateral trade has a value of $1 billion, and this will surely increase in the future.
When Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited Korea last year, discussions ensued with the aim of developing bilateral relations in various ways, including mutual support in the international arena, such as in the UN, as well as cooperation in energy and resource development.
An exhibition of Bangladesh culture is scheduled to be held in Seoul next month.
On the occasion of the Bangladesh Independence Day and the Lunar New Year, I look forward to experiencing Bengali culture at the exhibition.
I will also keep an interest in the Bengali people living in Korea and find ways to help them.
Again, my sincere congratulations on the Independence Day of Bangladesh, a friend of Korea.