The Bangladesh Embassy in Seoul commemorated the country's 54th Independence Day on Monday, honoring Bangladesh’s struggle for freedom and celebrating enduring bilateral ties with South Korea.

The event served as a solemn reminder of Bangladesh’s nine-month Liberation War in 1971 and the sacrifices made by its people.

Delivering remarks at the celebration, Tarazul Islam, charge d’affaires at the Bangladesh Embassy, paid homage to the valiant freedom fighters and martyrs of the war, as well as those who lost their lives in the July 2024 protests against discrimination.

“The people of Bangladesh have long strived for an independent and prosperous country, free from discrimination, subjugation and injustice,” said Islam.

He highlighted Bangladesh’s transformation into one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, driven by robust growth, social advancement and a dynamic workforce.

“Persistent, robust economic growth and remarkable progress in various social sectors have led to significant improvements in people's overall living standards,” according to Islam.

Islam also underscored the expanding Bangladesh-Korea partnership, noting that bilateral trade has surpassed $3 billion and that Korean companies are active investors in Bangladesh’s infrastructure and manufacturing sectors.

“Korean companies are producing automobiles, home appliances and many other goods in Bangladesh,” he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister for Multilateral and Global Affairs at South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kweon Ki-hwan reaffirmed Korea’s commitment to Bangladesh, highlighting decades of cooperation dating to 1973 in politics, economy and people-to-people exchanges.

“We both endured painful colonial rule but preserved our unique languages and cultures, and this made it possible for our people to unite and fiercely defend our identities,” said Kweon, drawing parallels between the two nations’ histories.

“From the early days of Bangladesh’s garment industry, Korea has worked closely with Bangladesh,” he said, referencing the landmark partnership between Desh Garments and Daewoo Corp. in 1979 that laid the foundation for the country’s garment sector.

“Currently, more than 13,000 Bangladeshi workers are actively contributing to Korea’s manufacturing, agriculture, livestock and construction sectors through the Employment Permit System,” underlined Kweon.

Korea introduced the work permit system in 2004 to systematically manage the foreign workforce in Korea and resolve labor shortages at local small and medium-sized companies.

The program will allow up to 130,000 foreign workers in 2025, involving 17 partner countries, permitting E-9 visa holders to work in the manufacturing and construction sectors.

“They (Bangladeshi workers) have become valued members of Korea's workforce and an integral part of our industries,” said Kweon.