Bangladesh, Algeria independence struggles carry ‘deep resonance’: Ambassador

Photo: Collected

Algerian Ambassador Abdelouahab Saidani on Saturday said that his nation’s independence struggle resonates deeply in Bangladesh, where sacrifice, and national self-determination carry high significance.

The independence struggles between the two countries remind the two nations “the value of independence, and responsibility to preserve it through peace, inclusion and respect for humanity,” he said at an event, which marked the Algerian Revolution Day on 1 November.

The event was hosted at a hotel in the capital.

“It is an honour to reflect on the Algerian Revolution of November 1, 1954—a defining struggle whose significance extends far beyond Algeria’s borders,” the envoy said in opening remarks.

For peoples living under colonial domination, Algeria became a powerful symbol of hope and the determination to achieve freedom., he said.

“After 132 years of French colonial rule, Algeria achieved independence through immense sacrifice, courage, and determination. Its Revolution transformed the country’s future while influencing international diplomacy, liberation movements, human rights debates, and the global understanding of sovereignty,” he added.

“The Algerian Revolution placed the rights of colonized peoples at the center of international debate. It exposed the contradiction between proclaiming universal human rights and denying entire populations their freedom, dignity, and political voice. The struggle strengthened the understanding that human rights include a people’s right to determine their own future. Its international influence can be understood through several important developments.

“Algeria became widely known as the “Mecca of Revolutionaries.” Its independence demonstrated that a determined liberation movement could challenge a powerful colonial state through resistance, organization, diplomacy, and international solidarity. Following independence, Algeria became an important meeting place and source of support for movements seeking liberation, connecting struggles across Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

“The Algerian struggle inspired anti-apartheid activists, including Nelson Mandela, as well as the Black Panther Party and liberation movements across Asia and Latin America.

“Algeria’s demand for independence became part of a broader movement affirming that peoples have the right to choose their political status and pursue their own development. This principle found powerful expression in UN General Assembly Resolution 1514 of 1960, the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. Algeria’s struggle helped give urgency and international visibility to this demand for freedom.

“Algerian Revolution helped strengthen South-South cooperation and the belief that countries emerging from colonial rule could support one another through diplomacy, mutual assistance, and shared advocacy.”