By Ali Hassan

Bangladesh and United States has deep relations since the liberation war and onwards. US foreign policy remained directly involve in the norms and terms of Bangladesh. It has also helped Bangladesh in libration war and getting separated from West Pakistan nominating west Pakistanis as the core enemy of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). To strengthen and enlighten these old ties Edward M Kennedy Jr, son of late US Senator Edward M Kennedy and nephew of late US President John F Kennedy, is on a weeklong visit to Bangladesh along with his five member family – wife Dr Katherine "Kiki" Kennedy, daughter Dr Kiley Kennedy, son Teddy Kennedy, niece Grace Kennedy Allen and nephew Max Allen from 29 October to 5 November, 22 to join the yearlong celebration of the 50th anniversary of US-Bangladesh relations.

Edward M Kennedy Jr. stated that the Kennedy family feels a special kinship with the people of Bangladesh and will always supports the country's democracy and prosperity as it has supported in previous years since the separation from West Pakistan. Kennedy also gave the speech to commemorate the legacy of his father as an advocate for Bangladesh's fight for independence under the auspices of the US Department of State's Speakers Program and also visited the Banyan tree his father planted to symbolize the friendship between the United States and Bangladesh. Speaking at the "Commemoration of 50 Years of US-Bangladesh Relations" at Nabab Nawab Ali Senate Bhaban of Dhaka University (DU) he said, "Our relationship with Bangladesh is lasting…like that of the Banyan tree that stands for long."Amid academics, students and civil society members, he also recalled the memories of his father, who told stories of Bangladesh's struggle for independence and the bloodshed it witnessed, not only to his family members but also the world.

Moreover, according to an agenda the Kennedy family will visit various cultural attractions and meet with civil society representatives, U.S. government-sponsored exchange program alumni, and Bangladeshi government officials, including the Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen. So in order to give special importance to the state visit of Edward M. Kennedy Jr. and his family, The Embassy of the United States of America is delighted to announce the historic visit of Edward M. Kennedy, Jr. and his family to mark a milestone in the yearlong celebration of the 50th anniversary of U.S.-Bangladesh relations during the one-week visit to Bangladesh.

 Furthermore, Edward M Kennedy Jr, and his family also visited Bangabandhu Memorial Museum on Dhanmondi-32 in Dhaka where he commented a message which stated: "We duly appreciate the hospitality and feelings of the people of Bangladesh; we are all tremendously moved by this museum of the memories of Sheikh Family and role in the struggle for independence. I know how my father was to support the independence movement and raise his voice in the United States to get other countries to support your country at most critical time, this house is a testament to the sacrifices".

Moreover, Edward M Kennedy knows as Teddy Kennedy, the father of Edward M Kennedy Jr. had also a marked a milestone by visiting Bangladesh along with his family in 1972 where  he addressed an event in Dhaka University on 14 February 1972 and planted a Banyan tree on the campus. He was a strong supporter of Bangladesh and supported Bangladesh with the strong foreign policy neglecting the president Nixon foreign policy in the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971 and breaking Pakistan into two halves as Bangladesh and Pakistan. Soon after the war happened he also travelled to India on 11 August 1971 to witness the plight of the displaced Bengalese. He strongly criticized the Nixon-Kissinger administration’s policy at a press conference in Delhi. He was also the chairman of the judicial sub-committee on refugees. Fast forward, Teddy Kennedy along with his wife and nephew visited Bangladesh in the following year of the independence.

To appreciate and pose affections to the United States and specially the Senator Edward M Kennedy who remained in the front line to support Bangladesh in liberation war in 1971, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina conferred the prestigious ‘Friends of Liberation War’ honor on former US Senator Edward M Kennedy posthumously in Dhaka for his contribution to the liberation of Bangladesh. The honor was handed over to his son Edward M Ted Kennedy Junior. Recalling the strong opposition mounted by Kennedy Senior against the US government policy of supplying arms to Pakistan, Prime Minister Hasina said that Kennedy worked hard to stop US military and economic aid to Pakistan till the end of the war. She recalled that Kennedy visited the refugee camps in West Bengal where a large number of people from the then East Pakistan had fled to escape from Pakistan.

The separation of East and West Pakistan is undoubtedly the result of great conspiracies within the state and neighboring states as well. But the front line supporters of separation will always be remembered and honored by the Bangladeshi Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina such as she honored US Senator Edward M Kennedy with the prestigious ‘Friends of Liberation War’ award. Bangladesh is now acquiring the hall of fame and support by the well developed states like US and India in order to grow without recalling its past and neglecting the realities and causes that lead Bangladesh to get separated from Pakistan.